The public hearing for the two companies that have applied for membership to Nippon Professional Baseball began Wednesday with the two sides presenting their business propositions before a panel of baseball executives.
Hiroshima Carp's Shigenobu Shima singles off Yokohama BayStars starter Scott Mullen at Hiroshima Stadium. It was the 189th hit of the season for Shima, who needs three more to tie the Central League record.
Internet mall operator Rakuten Inc. and Internet service provider Livedoor Co., which are vying to fill the void in the Pacific League left by the merger between the Orix BlueWave and the Kintetsu Buffaloes, were given an hour and a half each to discuss team and budget blueprints.