Pacific League: Orix Buffaloes 4-12 Rakuten Eagles (27th, Kyocera Dome)

Rakuten Eagles pitcher Kenta Maeda earned a win in his hometown of Osaka for the first time in 13 years. Starting against the Orix Buffaloes, he pitched well, allowing 3 hit and 2 runs with 7 strike out over 6 innings, and secured his fourth win of the season. "My parents, family, and many friends came to see me, and since I've returned to Japan after a long time, I'm glad I could show them a winning game," he said with excitement.

He racked up outs at a good tempo from the start. Mixing fastballs that clocked up to 150 km/h with breaking balls, he allowed no hits and no runs through five innings. He continued his stable pitch, but in the 6th inning with no outs and a runner on first, he gave up a hit to center field to Mugitani, allowing his first hit. Later, with one out and runners on second and third, he allowed a run during Nishikawa's grounder to shortstop. Furthermore, with two outs and a runner on third, he gave up a right-field RBI hit to Kita. Even so, it was a strong performance of two runs over six innings. He said he was hardly aware of the fact that he was maintaining a no-hit pitch. 'I don't really think about it in the 5th inning. I might start to if I get to around the 7th,' he said with a laugh.