◆ Pacific League Seibu Lions 3-2 Orix Buffaloes (19th, Belluna Dome)

Orix Buffaloes suffered their second walk-off loss of the season. In the ninth inning, leading by one run, third pitcher Machado gave up a game-tying solo home run over center field to Nevin. After that, with two outs and runners on first and second, Genda finally carried the ball to right field, and he ran out. The closer, who had recorded 24 saves so far, failed his first save of the season in runs for the first time in 17 games. Manager Mamoru Kishida said, "Machado has been closer the whole time. If closer goes and gets hit, there's nothing we can do. Because it's our best pitcher. We have no choice but to switch gears and have him do it again tomorrow."

Jerry pitched well, allowing only one runs in seven innings. He missed out on his fourth win of the season, his first in seven games since the game against Softbank Hawks on June 23rd (at Mizuho PayPay Dome), but the manager nodded and said, "He pitched hard in the heat. He was very motivated and pitched well." In the eighth inning, Yamazaki recorded a top speed of 159 km/h and pitch a perfect inning. With Mukunoki absent, the manager praised him, saying, "He had a lot of power."

In his second year as manager, Kishida and his team are now three games behind, their worst record of the season. This is their fourth four-game losing streak, and they are now eight games behind third-place Nippon-Ham. "We rarely have all of our players together due to injuries, but everyone is working incredibly hard despite that. They are really working their hardest, so we just have to switch gears and do our best again tomorrow. We will keep trying our best," he told himself.