◆ Pacific League: Softbank Hawks vs. Nippon-Ham (5th, Mizuho PayPay Dome)

Softbank Hawks However, with their fifth straight win, they brought their magic number for the championship down to “37.” Nippon-Ham Despite being tied after giving up a four-run lead, Isami Nomura infielder (29)—who had gone starting line-up for the first time in six games—hit a game-winning two-run homer in the eighth inning, showcasing the champions’ true resilience.The earliest they could clinch the title is the 29th of this month. Their momentum shows no signs of slowing down as they aim for their first three-peat since their Nankai era from 1964 to 1966—a 60-year gap—and their first since relocating to Fukuoka.

Softbank Hawks 's Nomura swung with all his might at the first pitch. In the bottom of the 8th inning with two outs and a runner on first base, with the score tied, he said, "I was waiting for a pitch I could hit for extra bases. It felt good," and his powerful hit sent the ball over the center field wall for a game-winning two-run homer, his fifth of the season. He was mobbed by Yanagita and others in front of the dugout, and finally a smile broke out on his face.

He was named to starting line-up for the first time in six games, but made a costly mistake. In the sixth inning, with a three-run lead and two outs, runners on first and second defense, bad throw to first base while playing third base. The opposing team tied the game, and Otsu's 10th win vanished. He made up for it with his bat, but manager Kokubo was harsh, saying, "It didn't redeem him. In this world, throwing has to be in a situation where you can be sure the ball will be caught."

Even small mistakes, if left unchecked, can lead to cracks in the team's defense. While the magic number for winning the championship is now 37, the manager remains unfazed, saying, "We've won two straight games (in this series), so we'll aim for a third straight." Without complacency, they continue their quest for a third consecutive league championship. (Tosei Moriguchi)

〇... Softbank Hawks win, eliminating Nippon-Ham 's chances of winning the championship on their own. Softbank Hawks 's magic number for winning the championship is now 37. The opponent is Seibu Lions, who would have the highest winning percentage if they win all their remaining games. If Seibu Lions wins all of their remaining 42 games, their record would be 97 wins, 43 losses, and 3 ties, with a winning percentage of .693. Of Softbank Hawks 's remaining 46 games, even if they lose all 8 games against Seibu Lions, they would still have a record of 37 wins and 1 loss against the other teams, resulting in a record of 99 wins, 43 losses, and 1 tie, with a winning percentage of .697, which is higher. Currently, the earliest date for Softbank to win the championship is August 29th.