◆Pacific League: Rakuten Eagles vs. Orix Buffaloes (1st, Akita)

Orix Buffaloes pitcher Alen Kuri left the mound after giving up 5 hits and 3 runs over 5 innings.

In the first inning, after giving a Walk to YG Yasuda with one out, he faced a crisis with runners on first and second after Muneyama hit a single to left field. However, he got the next batter, Muneyama, to hit into a third-base ground ball double play, escaping with zero runs. In the second inning, he retired the side in order.

In the third inning, after allowing the leadoff batter Horiuchi to reach base on a pitcher-front infield hit, he gave up a Walk to Nakajima with one out and another Walk to Muneyama with two outs. Although he faced a bases loaded crisis, he ultimately got McCusker to fly out to left. In the fourth inning, he held them to zero runs as a closer.

In the fifth inning with both sides scoreless, the lead-off batter Kurokawa hit a single to right field. With one out, he gave up a Walk to YG Yasuda, creating a crisis with runners on first and second. He then gave up a painful three-run homer to the next batter, Muneyama, allowing the first runs of the game.

Manager Kishida decided to switch to the second pitcher, Gonda, starting from the sixth inning. Although it was Kuri's 35th birthday, he was unable to secure his first career 'birthday win,' following similar outcomes in 2016 and 2020.