◆ Pacific League: Lotte 3-2 Rakuten Eagles (8th, ZOZO Marine)

Rakuten Eagles pitcher Kenta Maeda started the game against Lotte, allowing 8 hits and 2 runs over 6 innings, resulting in a no-decision. The team suffered a walk-off loss, marking their fourth consecutive defeat. Their deficit has ballooned to a season-worst 28 games below .500.

He took the mound as the starter aiming for his fifth win of the season. In the third inning, with both teams scoreless, he gave up a solo home run to the leadoff hitter, Inoue, surrendering the opening run. After that, he retired batters in good rhythm, but in the fifth inning with the score tied and two outs, he gave up a triple to Yamazaki, followed by a go-ahead RBI single to center by Fujiwara.

The right-hander looked back regretfully at the scene where he gave up runs in the fifth inning. 'I wanted to be the closer there. Not just the triple with two outs, but also being hit by Fujiwara after that. That one run was a run I wanted to prevent. Looking at the result of the game, it was a waste, or rather, a situation where I had to be a solid closer,' he said, taking the matter seriously.

Although he didn't get the win, he pitched tenaciously while allowing runners on base. He expressed his gratitude, saying, 'I allowed many runners to accumulate, but in the final 6th inning (with runners on first and third and one out), the short stop and second baseman handled the double play solidly, and I was able to go for it when (catcher Hikaru) Ota said, "Let's aim for a double play." I was truly helped by the fielders in that situation.'

If he had achieved his fifth victory of the season in that game, it would have been his 170th career win between Japan and the U.S., tying the records of Daisuke Matsuzaka and Hisashi Iwakuma.