◆Pacific League: Softbank Hawks 2-5 Seibu Lions (6th, Mizuho PayPay)

pitcher Natsuki Takeuchi allowed 6 hit and 1 runs over six innings. He earned his 11th win, a personal best that ties him for the league lead.

Although he gave a Walk to the leadoff batter Masaki in the first inning, he got the next batter Shuto to hit into a second base grounder double play, finishing the start with three batters. In the second inning, consecutive hits from the leadoff batter put runners on first and third with no outs, but he did not allow any runs, getting Yanagimachi to hit into a second base grounder double play with one out and runners on first and third.

He continued to pitch tenaciously despite allowing runners on base. In the sixth inning, he gave up a run on Yamamoto's groundout to shortstop with runners on second and third and one out, but he managed to retire the subsequent batters.

The left-hander expressed gratitude to his teammates, saying, 'I won because the fielders really hit for me.' He calmly reflected, 'I'm honestly happy (about the 11th win). (My performance) was not good at all. I think there are times when you have to pitch despite being in bad form, so it was good that I was able to act as a closer in that situation.'