◆ Pacific League Nippon-Ham 0-6 Rakuten Eagles (August 8, ES CON FIELD)

Rakuten Eagles pitcher Takahisa Hayakawa (28) threw 106 pitches over 8 innings, allowing 6 hit and no runs, earning his 5th win of the season, his first since July 3rd against Nippon-Ham (Rakuten Eagles Mobile).

In the first game of the series on the 7th, which ended in walk-off loss, Rakuten Eagles pitcher hit five batters with Hit by Pitch. Nippon-Ham manager Shinjo said, "There were a few too many hit batters. I'd like them to think about that," and an uneasy atmosphere hung over mound as Hayakawa took the Hit by Pitch, but he didn't hit any batters with pitches and didn't Walk any either. Reflecting on his fearless pitch, attacking the inside corner, he said, "Throughout the season, I've only hit one batter so far. Considering that, the probability is quite low. I was pitching without thinking about it at all. I just kept attacking where I needed to attack, and I think that was good."