◆ Pacific League Nippon-Ham 5-5 Softbank Hawks (20th, ES CON FIELD)

Nippon-Ham drew with reigning champions Softbank Hawks after a extra inning 12-inning battle that lasted over 4 hours and 30 minutes. This was their first draw of the season in their 114th game. In the 8th inning, with the score 5-1, their third pitcher, Fukushima, gave up grand slam to Kurihara, tying the game and sending it into extra inning. They maintained their lead of 13 games and kept the gap with the league leaders at 7.5 games.

Manager Shinjo recalled the two instances in the 9th and 11th innings when Reyes was intentional walk runner on base, saying, "They must have been afraid of a home run. I've seen Barry Bonds intentional walk walked with the bases bases loaded one out, so this is still better than that, intentional walk with bases loaded? (laughs). It was probably 4-2. They made it 4-3 and the next batter got a double play. I've seen things like that, so I'm not surprised." He turned it into a joke by referencing the legendary Bonds incident he experienced in the majors.

He also commented on the challenge call regarding Reyes' doble to the top of the left-center wall in the third inning. The manager had intended to wait for the umpire' video review of Home Run before making a challenge, but was deemed to have requested a challenge. "I told them to let umpire make their decision first, and I didn't signal for a umpire, so they said there was one more chance left. I mean, I didn't use the replay. I feel like I wasted a chance," he lamented. He continued, "umpire are also doing their best. I think there are disagreements like that," reflecting that there was a misunderstanding between the two sides.