◆ Pacific League 8-0 Seibu Lions (May 5th, ZOZO Marine Stadium)

Starting pitcher Sou Sato suffered his first professional loss, giving up 8 hit 7 runs in 6 1/3 innings.

In the first inning, he gave up a walk with one out, but then got the next Walk out, and in the second and third innings closer the side in order, showing an excellent start to the game.

However, in the fourth inning, with neither team scoring scores, Ogawa hit a triple to right-center with two outs and bases loaded a sweep, giving up three runs in one go. In the sixth inning, Yamaguchi hit a solo Home Run to the left field stands to leadoff lead, and after scoring one out, pinch hitter Dai Yamamoto also hit a solo Home Run to the left field stands.

In the seventh inning, trailing by five runs, he was taken out of the game with one out and runners on first and second base. However, the second pitcher who took over, Yu Nakamura, gave up a three-run homer to Soto to left field, further widening the gap.

After the game, manager Nishiguchi commented on the left-hander's future, saying, "He won't pitch next week. He'll need to readjust." Sou Sato looked dejected, saying, "The first three inning were perfect. From the fourth inning onwards, my form just wouldn't settle, and there were some things I couldn't figure out myself that I couldn't fix." He vowed, "My job is to pitch inning well and control the game. I'll work hard in the farm team to address each issue one by one and make sure I can return to the first team."

A skilled left-handed pitcher who joined Seibu Lions in 2024 as the fourth pick in the developmental draft from Seisa Doto University. In his first-team debut on May 1st against Lotte (at ZOZO Marine Stadium), he pitched seven innings, allowing only two hit and no runs, earning the team's first-ever win as a developmental player. After that, he experienced adjustments in the farm team due to rotation reorganizations and a shift to reliever. He was aiming for his second professional win in about three months at a stadium where he has a good track record, but the result was disappointing.