◆ Pacific League Nippon-Ham vs. Lotte (31st, ES CON FIELD)

Lotte was overwhelmed by Nippon-Ham in both pitching and hitting from the start of the season, and began the second half with a loss. In July, they had a record of 7 wins and 14 losses, and the gap between them and first-place Softbank Hawks widened to a season-high 15 games.

Starting pitcher Tokito Kawamura took the mound six days after his last appearance Orix Buffaloes on the 24th (at Kyocera Dome), where he suffered a walk walk-off off loss in the ninth inning after being on the verge of his first professional complete game. In the first inning, he managed to get out of double play with runners on first and second with one out by getting a double Walk, but in the second inning, he walked two batters in a row, which led to timely hits by Tamiya and Mizuno, resulting in three runs scored against him. In the third inning, he gave up a solo Home Run to Reyes, and in the fourth inning, he gave up a timely doble to Mizuno, resulting in five runs allowed in four innings and failing to control the game.

In the first inning, Misho Nishikawa outfielder of the starting line-up—batting second and playing right field for the first time in six games after recovering from bruises on both knees—led off with a single to right field with one out in his first at-bat since returning, but the following batters were retired. Although the team continued to put runners on base—such as with one out and runners on first and second in the second inning runner—they were unable to get past Nippon-Ham ’s starting pitcher Tatsu and remained scoreless through six innings.In the late innings, they were also outmaneuvered by Nippon-Ham ’s relief pitching, resulting in a decisive defeat.