Rito Kinoshita Earns First Pro Win
Rito Kinoshita, a young right-handed pitcher for Hanshin, recorded his first professional victory on July 16, 2026, in the Hanshin–Chunichi game at Vantelin Dome. He entered in the sixth inning with his team down by one, threw a scoreless inning, and the team took the lead immediately in the seventh on a two-run homer by Teruaki Sato, making the final 3-1 and crediting Kinoshita with the win. The victory came in his 27th appearance; Kinoshita showed relief and joy and reportedly received congratulatory messages from his family. With the result, Hanshin secured a series win for the third straight time.
Golden Eagles Outlast Buffaloes 12-8
The Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles outlasted the Orix Buffaloes 12-8 in a slugfest on July 16.
Marines Beat Lions 4-3
The Chiba Lotte Marines beat the Saitama Seibu Lions 4-3 on July 16.