◆ This season, they've lost 4 out of 6 games against Softbank Hawks... Manaka says, "We have to overcome this."

Nippon-Ham 's Hiromi Ito started on the mound against Softbank Hawks on the 18th. He pitched 3 innings, throwing 65 pitches, giving up 7 hit strike out 3, Walk 1, and allowing 5 runs (4 earned), resulting in his 8th loss of the season.

Ito was pulled from the game after just three innings, his shortest outing of the season. On the Fuji TV ONE program "Pro baseball News 2026" aired on the 18th, MC Mitsuru Manaka pointed out that "they have lost four out of six games against Softbank Hawks this season," to which commentator Ryota Igarashi analyzed, "Manager Shinjo has been determined to start the game against Softbank Hawks with Ito and win, and he hasn't wavered from that stance. But they just haven't been able to win, and it seems that Softbank Hawks batting lineup has been able to handle them well."

Another commentator, Hatsuhiko Tsuji, praised the opposing lineup, saying, "Even when we throw a straight pitch, they either foul it off or let it go, but they hit breaking ball with precision. It's almost as if they know what kind of pitch it is, which just goes to show how amazing Softbank Hawks lineup is." Manaka then added, "We have to overcome this, Softbank Hawks lineup."

☆ Cooperation: Fuji TV ONE "Professional baseball News 2026"