◆ Pacific League Nippon-Ham 1-0 Rakuten Eagles (September 9th, ES CON FIELD)

Rakuten Eagles pitcher Tatsuki Koja (24) started against Nippon-Ham and pitched well, throwing 86 pitches over 8 innings, strike out only 2 hits, hit out 6, Hit by Pitch none, and giving up only 1 runs, but he received no run support from the offense and suffered his 8th loss of the season.

He was pitch through six innings. In the seventh inning, leadoff hitter Igoman hit a hit to right, and both the perfect game and no hitter were erased. Mizuno then hit a 145 km/h fastball on the first pitch, and a sacrifice bunt in front of third base. Because he chased the ball, his own base cover was delayed, leaving third base wide open, allowing runner to advance to third base to and Igoman. With one out and a runner on third, Mannami hit an unlucky RBI single to the rear of shortstop. Without support from the lineup, he ultimately cried over this one run.

After the game, he regretted Mizuno's sacrifice bunt. "I still have a long way to go. I also considered runner (Igohata) and rolled him there (in front of third base). (third base) Before covering it, I think I threw more difficult pitches, and so on. I think the reason for the loss was always my first pitch," he reflected. "I gained something, but a loss is a loss. I hope I can win and make that kind of pitch. I hope I can make that kind of pitch in any game," he said, determined to secure his second win in his next outing.