◆ Pacific League: Orix Buffaloes vs. Rakuten Eagles (3rd, Tokyo Dome)

Orix Buffaloes Buffaloes infielder Kotaro Kobayashi started at shortstop, batting ninth, and hit his 13th home run of the season, a two-run shot, in his first at-bat.

In the second inning, trailing 1-6 with two outs and a runner on first, he swung at a fastball from Rakuten Eagles 's Shoji on a 1-ball count and hit it over the center field wall. He had made a runs in the first inning at defense that led to a run being scored, and he said, "I made an error, so I went to the plate determined to make up for it somehow. I'll do my best to turn the game around."

As of the start of this season, his highest number of home runs was 10 in 2021. For the starting short stop in his seventh professional season, who has set a goal of "20 or more Home Run," this home run further surpasses his career high.