◆ Pacific League: Orix Buffaloes Rakuten Eagles (June 6th, Kyocera Dome Osaka)

Orix Buffaloes pitcher Daiki Tajima was pulled from the game after 5 innings, having given up 3 hit 3 runs. In the first inning, with two outs, he gave up a single to Sato to left field, followed by a two-run homer to McCusker. It was a costly blowout.

In the second inning, with two outs, he walked Horiuchi, but then got Muneyama to Walk out to second base. In the third inning, he retired the first three batters, and in the fourth inning, he retired the fourth batting order, both in order.

In the fifth inning, after allowing Taira to hit doble down the left field line, Horiuchi laid down a sacrifice bunt bunt, putting a runner on third with one out. The next batter, Muneyama, hit sacrifice fly to center field, giving up the third run. Yoshida, the second pitcher, took mound from the sixth inning.

In his ninth pro season, the left-hander—who made his first relief appearance—pitched strongly, relying on a fastball that topped out at 148 km/h to record 3 strike out. Even so, he was unable to secure his third win since the May 30 game against the Chunichi (Kyocera Dome Osaka).