◆ Pacific League: Rakuten Eagles 5-1 Orix Buffaloes (1st, Akita)

The Orix Buffaloes lost, reaching a season-worst deficit of 5 games under the Kishida administration in its second year. With a record of 9 wins and 13 losses against the last-place Rakuten Eagles, their first losing season in four years has been confirmed. Starting pitcher Kuri, who was celebrating his 35th birthday, was unable to hold his ground.

In the fifth inning with no score for either team, he gave up a painful go-ahead three-run home run to Muneyama with one out and runners on first and second. He allowed 5 hit, 3 runs, and 5 walks/Hit by Pitch over five innings, suffering his 10th loss (8 wins) for the first time in two years. Following 2016 and 2020 during his time with Hiroshima, he has now lost all three games played on his birthday. 'I wanted to pitch tenaciously somehow, but I am sorry for allowing the opening points with multiple runs,' he said, hanging his head.

The lineup could only manage to prevent a shutout game in the 8th inning with Kita's 8th solo home run over the right-field wall. They allowed Rakuten Eagles starter Tatsuki Ito, a native of Akita, to pitch 6 innings with zero runs, handing him a win for the second consecutive week. The gap between them and 3rd-place Nippon-Ham has widened to a maximum of 10 games. The situation for a second consecutive CS appearance has become extremely difficult.