◆ Pacific League Softbank Hawks 0-3 Orix Buffaloes (23rd, Mizuho PayPay Dome)

Orix Buffaloes pitcher Ryuhei Sotani earned his first win in 74 days. The left-hander had been prioritizing his conditioning, including his left elbow. In his third game back with the first team, he was in top form from the start.

He didn't allow the league-leading Softbank Hawks Hawks to reach second base, pitching seven scoreless runs with only two hit allowed. This earned him his fifth win (five losses), his first since the game Yakult on June 10th (Kyocera Dome Osaka).

The offense broke the deadlock in the 7th inning with one out and a runner on third base when Kida hit a single to center field, and in the 9th inning, Nishikawa hit his 10th home run of the season, a two-run shot over the right field fence. From the 8th inning onwards, Yamazaki and Machado took the mound.