◆ Pacific League: Orix Buffaloes vs. Nippon-Ham (16th, Kyocera Dome Osaka)

Orix Buffaloes Ryuhei Sotani pitcher left the mound after 6 hit 5 runs and 5 strike out in 3 2/3 innings. In the first inning, with two outs, he had Reyes walk at Walk, but got Nomura swinging struck out and runs. However, he was forced into a tough pitch in the second inning.

He got off Gunji to left and hit a doble, then gave up a two-run homer over left field to Castro with one out and a runner on second. He gave up two runs to take the lead. In the third inning, with one out, he let Mizuno walk Walk, but with two outs and a runner on second, he let Nomura pass and shut it out at struck out.

In the fourth inning, he gave up hits to Gunji to left field and Arizono to center field, then hit Castro with a Hit by Pitch, creating a bases-bases loaded with no outs. He then gave up an RBI single to Narama. After that, with two outs bases loaded, he gave up a two-doble down the right field line to Mizuno.

At this point, manager Kishida decided to switch to reliever Katayama. Soya struggled with his control, issuing three Hit by Pitch and hit batters, and his bid for his fifth win, his first since the game against Yakult on June 10th (Kyocera Dome Osaka), was put on hold.