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

Orix Buffaloes 's Espinoza ran into trouble in the sixth inning with a two-run lead. He had been on pace for a shutout, having held the opposing team scoreless through five innings and shutout game only 61 pitches, but then things took a turn runs. He gave up a solo home run to Kurokawa, who led off the inning, followed by a single to Nakajima. He then walked Tatsumi on four fastball Walk and gave up another single to Muneyama.

With no outs bases loaded, the team found itself in a dire situation when cleanup hitter McCusker hit a bases loaded. The team’s spirits plummeted as the score suddenly jumped to 5 runs. The foreign right-hander, who would have taken sole possession of first place in the league with his 11th win had he won, gave way to Yamaoka mound.