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

Rakuten Eagles defeated Orix Buffaloes, ending their three-game losing streak with a win.

Second-round draft pick Tatsuki Ito, who started the game, delivered a brilliant performance. Taking the mound in his hometown of Akita, the right-hander toyed with the hitters by mixing fastballs in the high 140 km/h range with a variety of breaking balls. Although he allowed runners into scoring position in both the 5th and 6th innings, he remained unfazed. He pitched carefully and allowed no runs. He earned his second win, giving up 4 hits and 3 Walks with no runs over 6 innings. He maintained a stable pitch even in strong winds. Manager Masato Yoshii praised him, saying, 'His pitching really made the local Akita wind his ally, and he was able to take advantage of that home-field edge. It was not like a rookie at all; when I think back to when I was a rookie, I couldn't have pitched like that, so I think he's quite impressive.'

The lineup changed the game with a single swing. In the fifth inning with runners on first and second and no score for either team, Muneyama caught a breaking ball thrown by Kuri and drove it into the right-field stands. It was his fifth three-run home run of the season and his third off Kuri, breaking the deadlock. Furthermore, Muneyama hit a solo shot in the seventh inning, marking his first career multi-home run game. The manager smiled and said of Muneyama, 'I know his batting is good. He is becoming increasingly capable of doing what needs to be done in the batter's box, so I believe he can hit even more. Today he had two wonderful home runs.'