◆ Pacific League League: Seibu Lions (April 4th, ZOZO Marine Stadium)

Seibu Lions starting pitcher, Kaima Taira was pulled from the game after his shortest outing of the season, having given up 5 runs in just 3 innings. He allowed 9 hit and threw 82 pitches by the end of the 3rd inning.

He took the mound in Game 1 of the All-Star Series on July 28, and this start came six days later. In the first inning, with his team leading 2-0, he allowed back-to-back hits to the first two batters, putting runners on first and second with no outs, but he retired the next two batters and runs got out of the inning.

However, in the second inning, after Walk and an infield hit put runners on second and third with two outs, he again found himself in a jam, and Fujiwara hit a two-run single to right field to tie the game. In the third inning, with one out and a runner on second, he gave up a single to center field to Soto to take the lead, and then with two outs and a runner on first, he gave up a two-run homer to Ogawa, extending the lead. In a shocking turn of events, he gave up three runs on five consecutive hits, both long and short, and was told to be replaced.