On May 26, the first round of the 'Nippon Life Central-Pacific League Interleague 2026' between Hanshin Tigers and Hokkaido Nippon-Ham was held in Koshien, with Hokkaido Nippon-Ham win 4-0. Manager Tsuyoshi Shinjo achieved his 300th career wins as a manager.

The lineup had gone 4 hit scoreless through five innings, unable to keep up with the opposing starter Yuki Nishi pitcher, but in the top of the sixth, Reyes' solo home run of the ninth gave them the lead. In the top of the seventh, Chusei Mannami player infield hit and two Walk to make it one out bases loaded, and pinch hitter Castro hit a two-run single and the opponent pitcher pitched wildly, extending the lead to four runs.

Starting pitcher Hiromi Ito pitcher got off to a solid start, closer both the first and second innings perfectly. In the bottom of the fourth, he escaped a crisis with runners on first and second with one out, and with no runs, he retired all three batters in the second inning thereafter. In the 7th and 8th innings, he did not let the team step on second base. Then, in the bottom of the ninth with a four-run lead, he came up in the mound, and although he was given up with three consecutive hits and a no-out bases loaded, he closed out the game with three ba closer tters in the field.

win Hokkaido Nippon-Ham was pitcher Ito with 9 innings, 130 pitches, 7 hit no walks, Hit by Pitch 13 strike out no runs, marking his first shutout game win of the season. He achieved his league-leading sixth win.

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Japan ○ Hiromi Ito
Kami ●Yuki Nishi - Taisei Kudo - Takuma Kirishiki - Kyoki Yuasa - Seishu Hata

Written by Aoi Nishijima