◆ Pacific League: Nippon-Ham vs. Seibu Lions (11th, ES CON FIELD)

Seibu Lions starting pitcher, Kaima Taira, has completed five innings and is still pitch a no-hit, having allowed no hits.

He was in full gear from the very first inning. He gave the leadoff Mizuno a Hit by Pitch, then allowed the runners to advance between Hosokawa's grounder to third, putting a runner on second with one out. He put runner in scoring position and put even more effort into the game. He struck Mannami in the third batter Mannami with a swinging struck out with a 159 km/h fastball, and the cleanup batter, Reyes, also swung struck out with a 159 km/h fastball. He went head-on and started with no runs.

In the second inning, he retired the side in order. In the third inning, he was challenged by Yazawa, the leadoff batter, for nine pitches, but finally got him out with a ground ball to the pitcher on a 148 km/h fastball. He then got Isobata and Mizuno to ground out to second base and fly out to right field on 155 km/h fastballs.

In the fourth inning, he again retired three batters in order, including two consecutive swinging struck out from Mannami and Reyes. In the fifth inning, he gave up a Walk with one out and a runner on first, but retired Tamiya to center and Yazawa to ground.

Taira's victory marked his eighth win of the season, his first since the game against Lotte on July 14th (at Belluna Dome), approximately one month ago. Opposing starter Hiromi Ito has also been pitch no-hitters, making this first game of the direct confrontation between the second and third-placed teams a high-level pitcher duel.