◆パ・リーグ　ロッテ３―２日本ハム（２３日・ＺＯＺＯマリン）

Nippon-Ham lost a close game, suffering their second consecutive defeat and dropping their lead to 11 games above .500.

Starting pitcher Arihara gave up a solo home run to Fujiwara, the leadoff batter, in the first inning, giving up the lead. In the third inning, Fujiwara hit a double to center field, putting doble on second with one out, and Nishikawa hit an RBI single to left field, extending the lead to two runs.

The Lotte offense, which had been closer hit by starting pitcher Jackson through five innings, finally got on base in the sixth inning with one out when Mizutani hit an infield hit that bounced off Jackson's glove. Mizuno struck struck out, but Reyes followed with a game-tying two-run homer to right field, his 27th of the season, bringing the game back to a tie.

Although Arihara managed to tie the game, in the bottom of the sixth inning, after hit and Walk put runners on first and second with two outs, he gave up a timely doble down the right field line to Ogawa, and the lead was lost again.

Although the offense managed to tie the game once, they were unable to break down the Lotte pitcher staff, who came in as relievers from the 7th inning onward. Arihara gave up 8 hit 3 runs in 6 innings, suffering his 7th loss of the season.