◆ Pacific League Nippon-Ham 2-5 Seibu Lions (12th, ES CON FIELD)

Seibu Lions, who had climbed back to second place on the previous day, won consecutive matches against Nippon-Ham to maintain second place. Starting pitcher Yutaro Watanabe pitcher recorded his fifth win with two runs in the seventh inning, and his wife Taiga Kojima catcher hit a go-ahead three-run homer for the sixth homer, drawing win into the lineup.

Through the sixth inning, they reached base every time with runner but failed to score. However, in the seventh inning—trailing by two runs—they capitalized on an hit and an opponent’s error to create a prime opportunity with runners on second and third with no outs. “Since it was a big moment, I went up to the plate with an aggressive mindset. I’m glad I was able to bring runner home.“Yes!” Sosuke Genda infielder hit a two-run RBI single doble down the right-field line to tie the game. With one out and runners on first and third, first-round draft pick Taiga Kojima catcher launched his sixth home run of the season—a three-run shot that landed in the front row of the right-center field stands—to take the lead in one fell swoop.

Starting pitcher Watanabe pitched a tenacious game, allowing only four hit and two runs over seven innings, and earned his fifth win of the season, his first since the game Orix Buffaloes on June 21st (at Kyocera Dome), approximately two months ago.

He started strong, retiring the side in order in the first two innings. However, in the third inning, with one out, he gave up a solo Home Run to Kiyomiya, a bullet line drive that landed in the right field bullpen, allowing the opposing team to score first. In the sixth inning, he gave up another solo Home Run to Mizuno with one out, but in the top of the seventh inning, his teammates scored five runs to take the lead.