I don’t know if Kensuke Kondo is actually pursuing the Pacific League Triple Crown or not, given that his SoftBank Hawks are struggling every day to secure their postseason position, but if he is, his chances are gradually slipping.

On a PL-only Monday, there was one meaningless game, or at least meaningless except for Yoshihisa Hirano and perhaps Yoshinobu Yamamoto, and one game where two of the three playoff contenders, the Hawks faced off against the Rakuten Eagles, who sent Masahiro Tanaka to the mound in Fukuoka.

Monday’s games

Hawks 6, Eagles 0: At Fukuoka Dome, Tomohisa Ozeki (5-7), who started the season like gang-busters, left after allowing a first-inning leadoff single, but earned his first win since May 30. Masahiro Tanaka (7-11) allowed three runs on five hits and a walk over five innings to take the loss.

Yuki Yanagita and Akira Nakamura each had RBI singles in a two-run first inning. Kondo had an infield single and two walks while scoring twice.