◆ Seibu Lions Pacific League: Seibu vs. Orix Buffaloes (20th, Belluna Dome)

Seibu Lions, currently on a three-game winning streak, will face Orix Buffaloes Buffaloes (at Belluna Dome) in an attempt to secure their first four-game winning streak of the second half of the season.

The starting pitcher Haruki Sugiyama, a third-year high school graduate. The left-hander from Yokohama High School will be making his first appearance in a first-team game this season. Will he be able to deliver his first professional win in memory of Motonori Watanabe, the former Yokohama High School baseball team manager who passed away on the 17th at the age of 81? He will be paired with first-round draft catcher Taiga Kojima.

Tyler Nevin (infielder), who hit a game-tying solo home run in the ninth inning of the previous day’s game (the 19th) while trailing by one run, will start as the “No. 3 batter and first baseman,” while Sosuke Genda (infielder), who hit a walk-off with two outs and runners on first and second, will start as the “No. 8 batter and shortstop.”

Seibu Lions' starting line-up is as follows:

1 (center) Nishikawa

2 (Captive) Kojima

3 (1) Nevin

4 (Right) Canario

5 (left) Hirasawa

6 (DH) Tsuyoshi Nakamura

7 (3) Mountain Village

8 (Shortstop) Genda

9 (2B) Sato Futoshi

Starting pitcher = Haruki Sugiyama