On September 26, the 23rd game between Seibu Lions and Chiba Lotte Marines was held at Belluna Dome, and Seibu Lions won 5-4.

Starting pitcher Shinya Sugai showed a three-up, three-down start in the first inning. Although he faced runners in scoring position in the 3rd and 4th innings, he persevered with his pitch, finishing 6 innings with 98 pitches, 4 hits, 2 Hit by Pitch, 3 strike out, and no runs. The lineup succeeded in taking the lead in the bottom of the 6th with Canario 's 16th solo home run, but the relief squad gave up consecutive runs in the 7th and 8th, making the score 1-4.

However, in the bottom of the 8th, Taiga Kojima and Canario created a chance at 2nd and 3rd with consecutive hits, and Junichiro Kishi 's sacrifice fly pulled back one run. In the top of the 9th, pitcher E. Ramirez kept them scoreless, and in the bottom of the 9th, the lead-off Shinya Hasegawa reached base with a spirited infield hit. Shuta Tonosaki followed, and Kazunari Ishii 's timely triple tied the game. Finally, Takeya Nakamura decided the game with a timely hit that broke through the third base line.

Seibu Lions celebrated Manager Fumiya Nishiguchi's 54th birthday with a walk-off win. They were in danger of falling to 2nd place if they lost, but they held their ground with a comeback win. Canario, who hit the opening home run, recorded 3 hits.

For the defeated Chiba Lotte Marines, starting pitcher Kojima pitched well, throwing 108 pitches over 7 innings with 5 hits and 1 run. The lineup also overcame the opponent's relief squad late in the game, but closer Rikuto Yokoyama was a miscalculation. Takabe and Inoue recorded 2 hits and 2 RBI.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Total
M 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 2 0 4
L 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 3X 5

M Kazuya Ojima-Shota Suzuki-●Rikuto Yokoyama
L Shinya Sugai-Shunsuke Sato-Taishi Mameda-○E. Ramirez

Text by Minagi Niwa