◆ Pacific League Seibu Lions 1-3 Orix Buffaloes (20th, Belluna Dome)

In his first appearance of the season, third-year high school graduate left-handed pitcher Haruki Sugiyama was pulled after 5 innings, having given up 5 hit 2 runs. Despite his tenacious pitching, his first professional win was put on hold.

In the second inning, with the score tied at 0-0 and one out and a runner on third, Nakagawa gave up the first run on a single to left field sacrifice fly. In the third inning, after his team had tied the game, he found himself in a jam with two outs and runners on first and second—partly due to a team error—and then gave up a go-ahead RBI single to right field doble to Ota.

After his first appearance of the season, the left-hander immediately began to reflect on his shortcomings, saying, "There are still many areas where I need to improve." He gave up six runs in his first professional appearance and nine runs in his second, and while he reflected, "Last year I didn't have the ability to challenge for the first team in any aspect. Being able to get through the first inning scoreless this year is something I feel I've grown in," he also vowed strongly, "I think others are wondering when he'll get his first win, but I'm thinking about it many times more than they are. I want to work hard so that I can win next time. I want to get even stronger in the farm league and come back."

Manager Nishiguchi praised the left-hander, saying, "He pitched aggressively today, so I don't think the content of his pitching was that bad." Although he will now be sent to the farm team for adjustments, he left open the possibility of him pitching in a first-team game again this season, saying, "There's still a chance."

Sugiyama joined Seibu Lions in 2023 as the third overall pick in the draft from Yokohama High School. In the minor leagues this season, he appeared in 16 games (15 of which were starts), compiling a record of 10 wins and 5 losses ERA of 2.48, and was finally promoted to the first team.