◆ Seibu Lions Farm Team vs. Hanshin Tigers (5th, Belluna Dome)

Seibu Lions outfielder Masayuki Kuwahara who had been sidelined due to a torn left oblique muscle, made his return to action on the 5th in a farm team game against the Hanshin Hanshin Tigers (at Belluna Dome). He went 0-At Bat-2 with RBI hit.

He started the game batting leadoff and playing left field. In his first at-bat in the first inning, he flew out to center field; with his team leading 3-0 and no outs in the second inning (bases loaded), he hit a single to right field (sacrifice fly). In his third at-bat, leading off the fourth inning with his team now up by 8 runs, he grounded out to the pitcher. He was replaced by a pinch hitter in the sixth inning (defense).

In the third inning of the game against Nippon-Ham on the 11th (at Escon Stadium), with defense trailing by three runs, he was injured while throw and throwing a timely doble by Manami with two outs and a runner on first base. The team initially announced that he would be out for about four to six weeks, but his return to action came much sooner than expected.