◆ Pacific League Softbank Hawks 2-6 Nippon-Ham (June 6, Mizuho PayPay Dome)

Softbank Hawks 's winning streak ended at five games, and their magic number for winning the championship remains at 37.

The relief pitchers couldn't hold on and the team lose, but infielder Taisei Makihara, playing as the seventh batter and second baseman, was outstanding with three hit and two RBI. Manager Kokubo praised him, saying, "He did a great job."

First, in the second inning with one out and runners on first and second, doble hit a go-ahead RBI hit to right field. In the fourth inning with two outs, he hit an infield single, and in the sixth inning with one out and runners on first and third, he hit an RBI single to left field, making the score 1-2. Although it didn't lead to win, his consistent hitting raised his batting average to .292, and he reflected, "I think it was a good result because I swung at a good pitch."

When he hit a timely RBI single in the sixth inning, he commented, "I was just thinking, 'I don't want to lose to the in-form Yuki Yanagita.'" "Yanagita, the oldest player, is working so hard. We're still younger than him. I think we have to work even harder than him." He looked once again with respect at the 37-year-old, who was batting fifth again that day and recorded two hit.