◆ Pacific League: Softbank Hawks 14-1 Nippon-Ham (8th, Mizuho PayPay Dome)

Nippon-Ham lost to the league-leading Softbank Hawks, failing to secure their ninth consecutive victory. The gap between them and the second-place Seibu Lions widened to one game. Their head-to-head record against the Softbank Hawks now stands at 5 wins, 13 losses, and 2 draws.

The starter Yamazaki gave up a Hit by Pitch to the leadoff hitter Masaki in the first inning, then allowed the second hitter Shuto to blast a go-ahead two-run home run near the right-field pole. In the third inning, he surrendered a massive 35th two-run home run of the season to Kurihara into the right-field stands, and he handed over the mound to the second pitcher Uehara midway through the fifth inning. He pitched 4 2/3 innings, allowing 7 hits and 4 runs, suffering his first loss of the season.

In the 7th inning, trailing 0-4, the lineup created an opportunity with runners on second and third and one out. The ninth batter, Mizuno, hit an RBI single to right field off Moinelo to pull back one run. However, with runners on first and third and one out, the following batters Imagawa and Tamiya both struck out swinging against the reliever Tsumori, failing to score any additional runs.