◆パ・リーグ　オリックス０―２西武（８日・京セラドーム大阪）

Seibu Lions pitcher Hiroshi Kaino served as the closer in the ninth inning with a two-run lead on the 8th, reaching his 20th save of the season against the Orix Buffaloes (Kyocera Dome). Having already recorded 20 hold, he became the third player in NPB history to achieve this feat in the same year, following Yuya Kubo of The Giants in 2011 (20 saves, 21 hold) and Kaima Taira of the Seibu Lions in 2021 (20 saves, 21 hold).

Kaino joined the Softbank Hawks as a first-round draft pick in 2018 after attending Toyo University Himeji High School and Toyo University. He moved to the Seibu Lions during the 2023 offseason as human compensation for infielder Hotaka Yamakawa, who moved to the Softbank Hawks via free agency, and has served as the closer since the middle of this season.

The reliable right-hander, who achieved his goal of 50 appearances for the first time in his third year since joining the Seibu Lions, closed out the game to secure the team's second consecutive victory. Before the three-game series against the Softbank Hawks starting on the 4th, he had expressed his determination, saying, 'I am happy that I have been able to stay healthy and maintain good physical condition up to this point. The fact that I have a chance to reach these numbers is thanks to Mr. Nishiguchi for playing me, so I want to perform while showing my gratitude. More than the numbers, it is important to act as a closer for the game right in front of me.'