◆ Pacific League Rakuten Eagles Rakuten vs. Orix Buffaloes (12th, Rakuten Eagles Mobile Saikyo Park Miyagi)

Rakuten Eagles 's Kenta Maeda pitcher is on the verge of his 100th career win in NPB, started the game against Orix Buffaloes on the 12th, but was taken out after 7 innings, having given up 7 hit 2 runs.

He got off to a good start. He retired the side in order in both the first and second innings, giving up no runs. He shut down hitter by mixing his fastball, which reached a top speed of 151 km/h, with slider.

The deadlock was broken in the fourth inning, with both teams scoreless. Kenta Maeda, who had been pitching well, gave up a two-run homer to Kurebayashi to left field with one out and a runner on first base, conceding the first run. Immediately afterward, the rain intensified, and with two outs and a runner on second base, the game was suspended. After a 33-minute delay, the game resumed. He managed to overcome the pinch without losing his concentration.

The batting lineup responded to the veteran's strong pitching. In the sixth inning, trailing by two runs, Kurokawa hit a solo home run in a comeback. Then, with no outs and bases loaded, McCuscar hit a bases loaded home run, successfully taking the lead. Ken Maeda left the mound with the right to win pitcher.

Kenta Maeda, who returned to NPB this season, had a record of 2 wins and 3 losses with ERA 2.91 in 9 appearances prior to the game. He struggled at the beginning of the season, but has recently started to show his true potential, achieving high-quality starts (HQS = 7 innings or more with 2 or fewer earned runs) in his last three appearances. Due to rain cancellations and other factors, his pitching schedule was postponed, so this will be his first appearance in the first team since July 15th. He said, "I was able to pitch once in the second team, so that was good for adjusting properly. I'm ready to go into the game without any problems."