◆ Pacific League Softbank Hawks 3-4 Lotte (13th, Mizuho PayPay Stadium)

Softbank Hawks, who entered the game with a magic number of 31 to clinch the championship, saw their winning streak come to an end at three games.

Starting pitcher Stewart took mound aiming for his seventh win, but he got off to a rough start, allowing consecutive hits to Fujiwara and Nishikawa in the first inning. He had runners on first and second with no outs, but managed to get out of the jam by retiring the next three batters in a row. However, in the second inning, with no outs and a bases loaded on first, he gave up a two-run homer to Ueda, and then allowed the bases to be loaded with one out. He also showed signs of discomfort in his leg and was taken out of the game after 1 1/3 innings.

The batting lineup failed to create any scoring opportunities against Tanaka. In the fifth inning, with one out and a runner on first, Masaki hit a timely doble, scoring two runs, and they mounted a comeback in the ninth inning, but ultimately it wasn't enough.