◇ Seibu Lions vs. Rakuten Eagles, Game 24 (27th, Belluna Dome)

Rakuten Eagles pitcher Takahisa Hayakawa has reached the regulation innings pitched for the second time in two years.

Pitcher Hayakawa, who had shown great compatibility with a 0.90 ERA in four games against the Seibu Lions so far this season, got off to an excellent start, retiring the side in order in each of the first three innings. In the bottom of the 4th inning with a two-point lead, he allowed runners into scoring position with a Hit by Pitch and a hit, but did not allow any runs.

In the bottom of the 5th inning, he gave up a solo home run, the 7th of the season, to Kazunari Ishii with one out, but shut down the following batters and got through the bottom of the 6th inning without allowing any runs. However, in the bottom of the 7th inning, after two hits led to a crisis with two outs and runners on 2nd and 3rd, he allowed a go-ahead two-run timely hit to Canario, leaving the mound after 7 innings, 114 pitches, 6 hits, 2 walks/Hit by Pitches, 6 strike outs, and 3 runs.

Despite some games this season where he was not blessed with much run support, Pitcher Hayakawa has pitched 6 innings or more in 18 out of all 22 starts and achieved a Quality Start (QS) in 17 games. In this game as well, although he did not get the win, he fulfilled his role as a starter and reached the regulation innings pitched for the second time in two years.