Overview
- Giants second-year outfielder Urata produced his first three-hit game in his first start batting leadoff and also recorded his first stolen base.
- Two doubles from Urata set up two-run homers by Izumiguchi and Cabbage, drawing praise from manager Shinnosuke Abe.
- SoftBank No. 3 hitter Yanagimachi drilled a bases-clearing double in the seventh to turn the game and stop a two-game slide, keeping the Hawks alone in first.
- Catcher Umino added a two-run homer in the eighth, his first in two years, to give SoftBank breathing room in the road win.
- Seibu lefty Takeuchi struck out 10 over seven scoreless innings, yet the Lions dropped a fourth straight loss as manager Fumiya Nishiguchi signaled moves to jolt a slumping lineup.