◆ Pacific League: Rakuten Eagles vs. Seibu Lions (23rd, Rakuten Eagles Mobile Saikyo Park Miyagi)

Second-placed Seibu Lions, 6.5 games behind league Softbank Hawks, will face Rakuten Eagles at 4 PM (Rakuten Eagles Mobile Saikyo Park Miyagi) in an attempt to achieve their first three-game sweep against the same opponent in the second half of the season.

Starting pitcher Natsuki Takeuchi was forced to withdraw due to back stiffness, so second-year pro left-hander Sou Sato made pitcher second "emergency appearance" of the season, the first being against Nippon-Ham on May 16th (at Escon Stadium). He will be paired with first-round draft catcher Taiga Kojima.

In the batting lineup, infielder Taiyo Sato, who had started at second base and batted ninth for the past three games, was left out of the starting starting line-up, infielder Keisuke Nakata took over at second base and batted ninth, his first start since the game against Orix Buffaloes on April 14th (at Kyocera Dome). Sato, who was expected to start again today, was hit near his right wrist by a fielding ball during pre-game practice and had to leave the field briefly.

Seibu Lions' starting line-up is as follows:

1 (middle) shore

2 (Captive) Kojima

3 (1) Nevin

4 (Right) Canario

5 (DH) Yu Koga

6 (3) Mountain Village

7 (left) Hiruma

8 (Shortstop) Genda

9 (2) Nakata

Starting pitcher: Sou Sato