On the 20th, Chikao Ikeda, who appeared on "Pro baseball News 2026" broadcast on Fuji TV ONE, commented on Softbank Hawks relief pitchers who win against Lotte that day.

On this day, setup man Yuki Matsumoto and closer Kazuki Sugiyama were both pitching in a row, so they were left out of the bench. The battle came with two players already known before the game, but Hernandez came in midway through the sixth inning with the score tied 4-3 and closer runs, and Gota Suzuki in the seventh inning also retired the first inning with three batters without any danger. Osuna, who came in in the eighth, gave up a home run to Soto and tied the game, but in the ninth inning with a 5-4 lead, Yuki Tsumori dominated with fastball-centered pitching and held onto the lead.

Ikeda reflected, "Matsumoto and Sugiyama have been pitching continuously, so we sometimes give them a rest, but Hernandez also seems to have had plenty of rest. Tsumori is in good condition, and Suzuki is also in very good condition. They are putting up solid numbers that make it understandable why they have the best relief ERA. They are doing their jobs and keeping the momentum going."

☆ Cooperation: Fuji TV ONE "Professional baseball News 2026"