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

Orix Buffaloes was back in debt after just one day. The miscalculation was the sudden change in starting pitcher Espinoza, who would have been the league leader with his 11th win if he had won. He held a two-run lead and was on runs for shutout game through five innings with 61 pitches, but was knocked out in the sixth inning after giving up five runs.

A solo home run to Kurokawa in leadoff hit a one-run lead. Manager Mamoru Kishida pointed out, "Of course, when you're focused on winning, that's natural. I don't even know if they got into a bit of defense." He then secured a grand slam with no outs, bases loaded, and runner, and hit the fourth batter McCuscar. "Everyone thinks they don't want to be tied. It was a shame to Walk (from a runner on first with no outs)."

In the previous at-bat, first baseman runner was caught off base on a pickoff throw. “Maybe it’s just a matter of momentum,” he said, his expression somber. The foreign right-hander, who leads the team with a career-high 10 wins in his third year in Japan, received the manager’s unwavering trust: “Of course I expect him to perform, and we still need him to win more games.”