Pacific League: Orix Buffaloes 4-3 Softbank Hawks (29th, Kyocera Dome Osaka)

The Softbank Hawks lost after their defense faltered early in the game, and their magic number for the championship remained at 20.

Four runs were given up all at once in the third inning. With no outs and a runner on first, catcher Yamamoto handled Nishikawa's infield hit but made a bad throw to first, leading to a crisis with runners on second and third. Starting pitcher Otsu got Mune and Kita out, but with two outs and runners on second and third, Kurihara made a bad throw to first on Ota's grounder to third. This allowed two runners to score, giving up the opening runs. Still with two outs and a runner on second, Otsu gave up three consecutive hits, surrendering two more runs. The large number of runs in this inning proved costly until the end. The right-hander was expected to earn his 11th win, which would have tied him for the league lead, but he suffered his fourth loss despite allowing zero earned runs.

The lineup scored a run on Shuto's grounder to second with one out and the bases loaded in the fifth inning, but with two outs and runners on first and third, Kondo flew out to left. Kawase hit an RBI single in the sixth. In the seventh, with two outs and runners on first and third, Kurihara hit an RBI doble down the right-field line to pull within one run, but with runners still on second and third, Yanagita grounded out to second against reliever Yamasaki.