◆Pacific League Rakuten Eagles 2-5 Nippon-Ham (5th, Rakuten Mobile Saikyo Park Miyagi)

Nippon-Ham achieved a 5-2 win over the Rakuten Eagles, marking their second seven-game winning streak of the season. Starting pitcher Hiromi Ito (29) recorded his first victory in two and a half months, and while their standings remained in 3rd place, the game gap with the 2nd place Seibu Lions has disappeared. Despite the high-momentum victory, Manager Tsuyoshi Shinjo (54) paid it no mind, stating, "I have my hands full just looking at my own team."

The manager's strategy, focused on winning every single game, was brilliant. In the third inning, the opening run was taken via a double steal. With runners on first and third and no outs, Mizuno on first base attempted a stolen base. At the same moment Rakuten Eagles' Ota made a throw to second base, Narama sprinted home. Manager Shinjo took the lead with a strategy of 'taking the gamble when you have to,' which led to a total of four runs in that inning.

In the 6th inning with a 5-0 lead, Imagawa, who started in right field, reached base on a Walk, and Isohata was brought in as a pinch runner. From the bottom of that inning, Isohata was moved to center field and Hosokawa was shifted to right field for defense. During that inning, with runners on first and second and one out, Hosokawa made a one-bounce throw to home plate on a right-field hit by YG's Yasuda. He recorded an assist and did not allow any runs. Manager Shinjo praised Hosokawa's play, saying, 'The charge, the timing, and the throwing lane were all perfect,' and added with a nod, 'If a run had scored there, the game could have gone either way. You have to win with defense. That's exactly what I'm talking about.'

The ace secured his first win in ten games, and the main slugger Reyes hit home runs in two consecutive games. Not only did the stars deliver spectacular performances, but Nippon-Ham also utilized meticulous strategies to seize their 70th win.