◆ Pacific League Softbank Hawks 22-2 Orix Buffaloes (22nd, Mizuho PayPay Dome)

Orix Buffaloes suffered a crushing hit, allowing a season-worst 26 hits and 22 runs, eliminating their chances of winning the championship on their own after 90 games. This is the first time they've allowed 22 runs since their game against Softbank Hawks on May 24, 2016 (at Yahoo! Dome), 10 years ago. Their winning percentage has dropped back to 50% in just one day.

Katayama, making his second start of the season, miscalculated. With a one-run lead in the first inning with no outs and runners on first and second, consecutive RBI hits to Kondo and Kurihara. He couldn't get an out, and after 13 pitches, he was knocked out 4 runs. This was the second time this month that a starter was taken out with no outs in the first inning, following Hajime Sato, who gave up four consecutive home runs to leadoff off the Nippon-Ham on the 2nd (ES CON FIELD). "I'm sorry. That's all I can say," he said, bowing his head.

In the second inning, Hiroshi hit consecutive home runs to Kondo and Kurihara, sending the ball three runs. In the third, third pitcher Yamaoka gave up two runs, and in the fourth inning, fourth pitcher Saito, returning to the first team appearance in 710 days, hit six timely hits for a 7-runs run.

From the sixth inning, Tajima made his first relief appearance in his 149th NPB game. However, after giving up a solo Home Run to Kurihara, he gave up a two-run homer to Masaki on the second inning, unable to stop the Softbank Hawks lineup's momentum.

In the first inning, with two outs, Nishikawa hit doble down the left field line, and Ota followed with a go-ahead doble to right field. In the sixth inning, Kida also got an RBI hit, but it turned into a nightmare one-sided game on the road.