BATTING Average .318 - Munetaka Murakami (Swallows) .314 - Yohei Ohshima (Dragons) .306 - Keita Sano (BayStars) .300 - Toshiro Miyazaki (BayStars) .294 - Dayán Viciedo (Dragons) .293 - Koji Chikamoto (Tigers) .2911 - Yuki Okabayashi (Dragons) .2907 - Shugo Maki (BayStars) .288 - Shogo Sakakura (Carp) .277 - Naoki Yoshikawa (Giants) On-Base Percentage .458 - Munetaka Murakami (Swallows) .376 - Yohei Ohshima (Dragons) .370 - Yoshihiro Maru (Giants) .365 - Toshiro Miyazaki (BayStars) .362 - Keita Sano (BayStars) .358 - Dayán Viciedo (Dragons) .355 - Yusuke Ohyama (Tigers) .354 - Shugo Maki (BayStars) .3523 - Ryan McBroom (Carp) .3522 - Shogo Sakakura (Carp) OPS 1.168 - Munetaka Murakami (Swallows) .861 - Shugo Maki (BayStars) .859 - Yoshihiro Maru (Giants) .853 - Keita Sano (BayStars) .835 - Toshiro Miyazaki (BayStars) .827 - Yusuke Ohyama (Tigers) .805 - Kazuma Okamoto (Giants) .798 - Teruaki Sato (Tigers) .797 - Yasutaka Shiomi (Swallows) .794 - Ryan McBroom (Carp) Home Runs 56 - Munetaka Murakami (Swallows) 30 - Kazuma Okamoto (Giants) 27 - Yoshihiro Maru (Giants) 24 - Shugo Maki (BayStars) 24 - Sho Nakata (Giants) 24 - Gregory Polanco (Giants) 23 - Adam Walker (Giants) 23 - Yusuke Ohyama (Tigers) 23 - Tetsuto Yamada (Swallows) 22 - Keita Sano (BayStars) RBIs 134 - Munetaka Murakami (Swallows) 87 - Shugo Maki (BayStars) 87 - Yusuke Ohyama (Tigers) 84 - Teruaki Sato (Tigers) 82 - Kazuma Okamoto (Giants) 74 - Ryan McBroom (Carp) 74 - José Osuna (Swallows) 72 - Keita Sano (BayStars) 68 - Shogo Sakakura (Carp) 68 - Sho Nakata (Giants) AVG with RISP .350 - Munetaka Murakami (Swallows) .340 - Ryosuke Kikuchi (Carp) .331 - Shugo Maki (BayStars) .317 - Ryan McBroom (Carp) .313 - Koji Chikamoto (Tigers) .308 - Dayán Viciedo (Dragons) .307 - Yusuke Ohyama (Tigers) .299 - José Osuna (Swallows) .287 - Shogo Sakakura (Carp) .286 - Yuki Okabayashi (Dragons) Stolen Bases 30 - Koji Chikamoto (Tigers) 24 - Yuki Okabayashi (Dragons) 24 - Yasutaka Shiomi (Swallows) 23 - Takumu Nakano (Tigers) 21 - Kairi Shimada (Tigers) 16 - Naoki Yoshikawa (Giants) 13 - Masayuki Kuwahara (BayStars) 12 - Munetaka Murakami (Swallows) 11 - 3 players tied PITCHING ERA 2.05 - Koyo Aoyagi (Tigers) 2.18 - Yuki Nishi (Tigers) 2.26 - Shota Imanaga (BayStars) 2.46 - Yudai Ohno (Dragons) 2.62 - Shosei Togo (Giants) 2.76 - Shinnosuke Ogasawara (Dragons) 2.82 - Yasuhiro Ogawa (Swallows) 3.12 - Tomoyuki Sugano (Giants) 3.17 - Masato Morishita (Carp) 3.64 - Yuya Yanagi (Dragons) WHIP 0.94 - Shota Imanaga (BayStars) 0.97 - Koyo Aoyagi (Tigers) 1.04 - Yudai Ohno (Dragons) 1.07 - Yuki Nishi (Tigers) 1.12 - Tomoyuki Sugano (Giants) 1.13 - Shinnosuke Ogasawara (Dragons) 1.147 - Shosei Togo (Giants) 1.154 - Yasuhiro Ogawa (Swallows) 1.25 - Yuya Yanagi (Dragons) 1.34 - Masato Morishita (Carp) Innings pitched 178.2 - Masato Morishita (Carp) 171.2 - Shosei Togo (Giants) 162.1 - Koyo Aoyagi (Tigers) 157.0 - Yudai Ohno (Dragons) 153.1 - Yasuhiro Ogawa (Swallows) 153.1 - Yūya Yanagi (Dragons) 148.1 - Yuki Nishi (Tigers) 147.0 - Tomoyuki Sugano (Giants) 146.2 - Shinnosuke Ogasawara (Dragons) 143.2 - Shota Imanaga (BayStars) Strikeouts 154 - Shosei Togo (Giants) 142 - Shinnosuke Ogasawara (Dragons) 134 - Hiroto Takahashi (Dragons) 133 - Masato Morishita (Carp) 132 - Koyo Aoyagi (Tigers) 132 - Shota Imanaga (BayStars) 124 - Yūya Yanagi (Dragons) 121 - Aren Kuri (Carp) 118 - Shinichi Ohnuki (BayStars) 113 - Keiji Takahashi (Swallows) Wins 13 - Koyo Aoyagi (Tigers) 12 - Shosei Togo (Giants) 11 - Shinichi Ohnuki (BayStars) 11 - Shota Imanaga (BayStars) 10 - Shinnosuke Ogasawara (Dragons) 10 - Tomoyuki Sugano (Giants) 10 - Masato Morishita (Carp) 9 - 5 players tied Holds 43 - Atsuki Yuasa (Tigers) 39 - Yariel Rodriguez (Dragons) 39 - Hiromu Ise (BayStars) 34 - Edwin Escobar (BayStars) 32 - Tatsuya Shimizu (Dragons) 28 - Noboru Shimizu (Swallows) 25 - Yuhei Takanashi (Giants) 24 - Daisuke Moriura (Carp) 21 - Masumi Hamachi (Tigers) 21 - Nobutaka Imamura (Giants) Saves 39 - Raidel Martínez (Dragons) 38 - Scott McGough (Swallows) 37 - Yasuaki Yamasaki (BayStars) 37 - Taisei Ota (Giants) 31 - Ryoji Kuribayashi (Carp) 28 - Suguru Iwazaki (Tigers) 3 - Kyle Keller (Tigers) 2 - Kazuto Taguchi (Swallows) 2 - Edwin Escobar (BayStars)
BATTING Average .347 - Go Matsumoto (Fighters) .335 - Masataka Yoshida (Buffaloes) .298 - Hiroaki Shimauchi (Eagles) .296 - Kenta Imamiya (Hawks) .283 - Keita Nakagawa (Buffaloes) .275 - Yuki Yanagita (Hawks) .274 - Akito Takabe (Marines) .2713 - Ryosuke Tatsumi (Eagles) .2707 - Yuma Mune (Buffaloes) .268 - Shuhei Fukuda (Buffaloes) On-Base Percentage .447 - Masataka Yoshida (Buffaloes) .398 - Go Matsumoto (Fighters) .375 - Hotaka Yamakawa (Lions) .373 - Hiroaki Shimauchi (Eagles) .365 - Hideto Asamura (Eagles) .3543 - Shogo Nakamura (Marines) .3542 - Ryosuke Tatsumi (Eagles) .352 - Kenta Imamiya (Hawks) .3441 - Yuki Yanagita (Hawks) .3440 - Daichi Suzuki (Eagles) OPS 1.008 - Masataka Yoshida (Buffaloes) .953 - Hotaka Yamakawa (Lions) .836 - Go Matsumoto (Fighters) .829 - Yuki Yanagita (Hawks) .826 - Hiroaki Shimauchi (Eagles) .801 - Hideto Asamura (Eagles) .767 - Keita Nakagawa (Buffaloes) .761 - Kenta Imamiya (Hawks) .755 - Ryosuke Tatsumi (Eagles) .746 - Shogo Nakamura (Marines) Home Runs 41 - Hotaka Yamakawa (Lions) 27 - Hideto Asamura (Eagles) 24 - Yuki Yanagita (Hawks) 21 - Masataka Yoshida (Buffaloes) 18 - Kotaro Kiyomiya (Fighters) 16 - Koki Yamaguchi (Marines) 15 - Yutaro Sugimoto (Buffaloes) 15 - Brian O'Grady (Lions) 15 - Brandon Laird (Marines) 14 - 4 players tied RBIs 90 - Hotaka Yamakawa (Lions) 88 - Masataka Yoshida (Buffaloes) 86 - Hideto Asamura (Eagles) 79 - Yuki Yanagita (Hawks) 77 - Hiroaki Shimauchi (Eagles) 68 - Shogo Nakamura (Marines) 57 - Koki Yamaguchi (Marines) 55 - Kotaro Kiyomiya (Fighters) 51 - 3 players tied AVG with RISP .419 - Go Matsumoto (Fighters) .367 - Masataka Yoshida (Buffaloes) .337 - Kenta Imamiya (Hawks) .323 - Yuma Mune (Buffaloes) .317 - Hideto Asamura (Eagles) .300 - Hiroaki Shimauchi (Eagles) .286 - Akito Takabe (Marines) .284 - Shogo Nakamura (Marines) .278 - Hotaka Yamakawa (Lions) .2772 - Keita Nakagawa (Buffaloes) Stolen Bases 44 - Akito Takabe (Marines) 22 - Ukyo Shuto (Hawks) 21 - Go Matsumoto (Fighters) 21 - Hiroto Kobukata (Eagles) 20 - Masaki Mimori (Hawks) 19 - Haruki Nishikawa (Eagles) 17 - Takuya Nakashima (Fighters) 15 - Takashi Ogino (Marines) 15 - Shogo Nakamura (Marines) 15 - Tsuyoshi Yamasaki (Eagles) PITCHING ERA 1.68 - Yoshinobu Yamamoto (Buffaloes) 1.94 - Koudai Senga (Hawks) 2.01 - Takayuki Katoh (Fighters) 2.20 - Kona Takahashi (Lions) 2.95 - Hiromi Itoh (Fighters) 3.14 - Kazuya Ojima (Marines) 3.16 - Hiroya Miyagi (Buffaloes) 3.31 - Masahiro Tanaka (Eagles) 3.38 - Naoyuki Uwasawa (Fighters) WHIP 0.91 - Takayuki Katoh (Fighters) 0.93 - Yoshinobu Yamamoto (Buffaloes) 1.06 - Koudai Senga (Hawks) 1.13 - Hiroya Miyagi (Buffaloes) 1.16 - Kona Takahashi (Lions) 1.17 - Masahiro Tanaka (Eagles) 1.18 - Naoyuki Uwasawa (Fighters) 1.21 - Hiromi Itoh (Fighters) 1.28 - Kazuya Ojima (Marines) Innings pitched 193.0 - Yoshinobu Yamamoto (Buffaloes) 175.2 - Kona Takahashi (Lions) 163.0 - Masahiro Tanaka (Eagles) 155.2 - Hiromi Itoh (Fighters) 152.0 - Naoyuki Uwasawa (Fighters) 148.1 - Hiroya Miyagi (Buffaloes) 147.2 - Takayuki Katoh (Fighters) 144.0 - Koudai Senga (Hawks) 143.1 - Kazuya Ojima (Marines) 141.0 - Takayuki Kishi (Eagles) Strikeouts 205 - Yoshinobu Yamamoto (Buffaloes) 173 - Roki Sasaki (Marines) 156 - Koudai Senga (Hawks) 128 - Kona Takahashi (Lions) 127 - Hiroya Miyagi (Buffaloes) 127 - Naoyuki Uwasawa (Fighters) 126 - Masahiro Tanaka (Eagles) 118 - Takayuki Kishi (Eagles) 112 - Hiromi Itoh (Fighters) 106 - Shuta Ishikawa (Hawks) Wins 15 - Yoshinobu Yamamoto (Buffaloes) 12 - Hiroya Miyagi (Buffaloes) 11 - Koudai Senga (Hawks) 11 - Hiroya Miyagi (Buffaloes) 10 - Kaito Yoza (Lions) 10 - Manabu Mima (Marines) 10 - Dietrich Enns (Lions) 10 - Hiromi Itoh (Fighters) 10 - Nao Higashihama (Hawks) 10 - Takahiro Norimoto (Eagles) Holds 34 - Kaima Taira (Lions) 31 - Yoshinobu Mizukami (Lions) 30 - Taiki Tojo (Marines) 30 - Naoto Nishiguchi (Eagles) 28 - Shinya Kayama (Hawks) 24 - Tayron Guerrero (Marines) 22 - Shota Abe (Buffaloes) 22 - Koya Fujii (Hawks) 20 - Keisuke Honda (Lions) 20 - Sung Chia-hao (Eagles) Saves 32 - Yuki Matsui (Eagles) 31 - Tatsushi Masuda (Lions) 28 - Yoshihisa Hirano (Buffaloes) 25 - Naoya Masuda (Marines) 24 - Liván Moinelo (Hawks) 10 - José Osuna (Marines) 9 - Kaima Taira (Lions) 9 - Koki Kitayama (Fighters) 6 - Yuito Mori (Hawks) 6 - Naoya Ishikawa (Fighters)
CLIMAX SERIES - FIRST STAGE Best-of-three format. Just like the regular season, if the score is tied after 9 innings the game continues to a maximum of 12 innings. If the score is still tied after 12 full innings, the game is declared a tie. NPB highly values the six month marathon of regular season play, which they believe establishes which are the best teams in each league. The teams that finished in second place in their respective leagues during the regular season (2022: BayStars, Hawks) receive a couple of perks during this CS1 series. 1) They get to host every game. 2) They must lose two games to be eliminated since they finished above their opponents in the regular season final standings. i.e. The third place teams (2022: Tigers, Lions) MUST win two games to advance to the next round. So if the series ends up tied 1-1-1 after all three games have been played, the second place team will advance to the Climax Series, Final Phase since the third place team did not meet the requirement of having to win two games. Central League Yokohama DeNA BayStars vs Hanshin Tigers at Yokohama Stadium Game 1 : Saturday, October 8 @ 14:00 Game 2 : Sunday, October 9 @ 14:00 Game 3 : Monday, October 10 @ 14:00 (if necessary) If any game gets rained out, the makeup game will be played on Tuesday, October 11 at 18:00 first pitch. The BayStars won the regular season series 16-9 Pacific League Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks vs Saitama Seibu Lions at the PayPay Dome in Fukuoka Game 1 : Saturday, October 8 @ 14:00 Game 2 : Sunday, October 9 @ 14:00 Game 3 : Monday, October 10 @ 14:00 (if necessary) If any game gets rained out, the makeup game will be played on Tuesday, October 11 at 18:00 first pitch. The Hawks won the regular season series 14-10-1
Saturday, October 8 Game 1 probables C.L. BayStars : Shota Imanaga (11-4, 2.26) Tigers : Koyo Aoyagi (13-4, 2.05) P.L. Hawks : Kodai Senga (11-6, 1.94) Lions : Kona Takahashi (12-8, 2.20)
Kodai Senga fanned 11 batters over eight innings and Yuki Yanagita hit a three-run home run in the third to help lead the SoftBank Hawks to a 5-3 victory over the Seibu Lions to take Game 1 of their Pacific League Climax Series First Phase. In what could possibly have been his final NPB outing, Senga allowed the three runs on four hits and four walks, including a solo homer by Tomoya Mori in the sixth. Senga has said that he plans on testing international free agency during the off-season. Seibu starter Kona Takahashi lasted six innings allowing five runs off six hits and three walks while striking out four. The Lions made things interesting in the ninth inning by getting two runners aboard until Liván Moinelo struck out Brian O'Grady to close the game. The Hawks can advance to the Climax Series Final Phase with a tie in either of the remaining two games.
A two-RBI single by Koji Chikamoto in the fifth inning was enough to give the Hanshin Tigers a 2-0 win over the Yokohama BayStars and a 1-0 series lead in their best-of-three First Phase of the Central League Climax Series. Koyo Aoyagi had a strong outing on the mound for Hanshin going six shutout innings allowing just four hits and one walk with two strikeouts. Aoyagi also helped his cause at the plate when he lined a one-out single down the right field line in the fifth inning. Following a Takumu Nakano single to center, pinch hitter Jefry Marté worked an 0-2 count into a walk to load the bases when Chikamoto delivered his two-run single off Yokohama's ace hurler Shota Imanaga. The Tigers appeared set to blow the game wide open when Chikamoto stole second base and Yusuke Ohyama was awarded a free pass to first to re-load the bases with one out. But Imanaga induced Fumihito Haraguchi and Teruaki Sato to fly out to end the rally before more damage could be done. Neftalí Soto, in a pinch-hitting role, led the BayStars offense going 2-for-2. The Tigers can wrap up the series with another win on Sunday.
Sunday, October 9 Game 2 probables C.L. Yokohama : Shinichi Ohnuki (11-8, 2.77) Hanshin : Masashi Itoh (9-5, 2.63) P.L. SoftBank : Nao Higashihama (10-6, 3.11) Seibu : Tatsuya Imai (5-1, 2.41)
Yuki Yanagita followed up his three-run home run in Game 1 with a grand slam on Sunday to help lift the SoftBank Hawks to a 8-2 victory over the Seibu Lions. The win clinches the PL-CS1 for the Hawks who will go on to face the Orix Buffaloes in the Climax Series Final Phase for a spot in the Nippon Series. Both of Yanagita's home runs in this series occurred in the third inning. But while his blast on Saturday was a no doubter, his grand slam on Sunday off an excuse me swing barely cleared the right field fence. Nevertheless, his seven RBIs over the two games is an extension of how much he has contributed to his team since the All-Star break. Nao Higashihama went five innings allowing one run on four hits and one walk in a quality outing for SoftBank. Seibu's Hotaka Yamakawa, who led the Pacific League with 41 home runs and 90 RBIs, went 1-for-6 with two walks and two strikeouts in the series for the disappointing Lions. Fittingly, his final swing of 2022 was a solo home run in the ninth inning. Following the defeat the Lions announced that manager Hatsuhiko Tsuji would be stepping down. Tsuji wanted to step down last year after the club finished in last place for the first time since 1979, but after consulting the club he agreed to stay for a sixth season. After having let the league pennant slip through their grasp on the final two days of regular season play, the Hawks will now travel to Osaka where they hope to put things right and represent the Pacific League in the Japan Series. Game 1 of the CS Final Phase will be on Wednesday, October 12.
An RBI single by Yamato Maeda in the fifth inning scored Toshiro Miyazaki with the only run of the game as the Yokohama BayStars forced a third game in the CL-CS1 following their 1-0 win over the Hanshin Tigers. Shinichi Ohnuki pitched 6-1/3 shutout innings allowing just two hits and no walks while striking out ten in a dominating performance. Relievers Hiromu Ise and Yasuaki Yamasaki kept the Hanshin bats quiet while adding four more strikeouts to complete the solid work from the mound. Once again, Neftalí Soto went 2-for-2 and now has four of the BayStars 11 hits over the two games. On Yamato's RBI single, Soto followed Miyazaki attempting to score a second run but was tagged out at the plate by Tigers catcher Ryutaro Umeno. Yokohama manager Daisuke Miura requested a video review believing Umeno had blocked Soto's path home before receiving the throw from centerfielder Koji Chikamoto but the play was, perhaps controversially, upheld although Umeno did move to the side before applying the tag. The Game 3 decider on Monday will be another afternoon affair with the BayStars only needing a tie to advance.
Monday, October 10 Game 3 probables C.L. Yokohama : Haruhiro Hamaguchi (8-7, 3.36) Hanshin : Hiroto Saiki (4-1, 1.53)
1579386507231887362 is not a valid tweet id In an incredible ninth inning that saw the Yokohama BayStars load the bases with one out and down by one run, the Hanshin Tigers turned an improbable 4-2-3 double play to secure a dramatic 3-2 victory to send them into the Final Phase of the Central League Climax Series. After opening the season with nine consecutive defeats and clinching a playoff berth with a losing record, the Tigers will face the back-to-back pennant winners and defending Japanese champions Yakult Swallows for the right to represent the Central League in the Nippon Series. Toshiro Miyazaki opened the scoring with a solo home run to right field off Hanshin starter Hiroto Saiki in the second inning. The home team made it 2-0 an inning later when Saiki threw a wild pitch allowing Taiki Sekine to score from third. Teruaki Sato cut Yokohama's lead in half in the fourth inning with a solo shot that just cleared the fence in straight away center field. Fumiya Hojoh began the Tigers sixth with a double down the left field line. Takahiro Kumagai replaced Hojoh on second and scored the tying run when Koji Chikamoto followed with a double off the right field fence, chasing BayStars starter Haruhiro Hamaguchi from the game. Fumihito Haraguchi worked reliever Taisei Irie to a full count before delivering a single to left scoring Chikamoto to give the Tigers the lead. Hanshin manager Akihiro Yano, who will be stepping down once the Tigers season ends, rolled the dice with two outs in the eighth inning by bringing on closer Atsuki Yuasa as the BayStars threatened with the tying run in scoring position. But after getting Keita Sano to ground out to end the threat, Yuasa dug himself into a hole in the ninth when he allowed Yokohama to load the bases with one out. And with the infield drawn in, 40 year old, 18 year veteran Kazuya Fujita grounded Yuasa's first pitch to second baseman Ryuhei Obata who threw to catcher Ryutaro Umeno for the force out at home, Umeno then throwing to Yusuke Ohyama at first to complete the improbable series ending double play and send the Tigers to just their third Climax Final Phase Series since the format began in 2007. Game 1 is scheduled for Wednesday, October 12 with an 18:00 first pitch start. https://www.instagram.com/reel/Cjh9DSaA0gX/
CLIMAX SERIES - FINAL STAGE Best-of-seven format. For each game, if the score is tied after 9 innings the game continues to a maximum of 12 innings. If the score is still tied after 12 full innings, the game is declared a tie. NPB highly values the six month marathon of regular season play, which they believe establishes which are the best teams in each league. The league pennant champions (2022: Swallows, Buffaloes) receive a few of perks in this Climax Final Phase Series since they finished above their opponents in the regular season final standings: 1) They get to host every game. 2) They receive a 'ghost win' and immediately lead the series 1-0. 3) They are eliminated only if they lose four games. i.e. The CS-First Phase winners (2022: Tigers, Hawks) MUST win four games to advance to the Japan Series. So if the series ends up tied 3-3-1 or any other combination where the CS1P winner fails to win four games after all six games have been played, the league champions/pennant winners will advance to the Nippon Series. CENTRAL LEAGUE Tokyo Yakult Swallows vs Hanshin Tigers at Meiji Jingu Stadium in Shinjuku, Tokyo Swallows lead the series 1-0 Game 1 : Wednesday, October 12 @ 18:00 Game 2 : Thursday, October 13 @ 18:00 Game 3 : Friday, October 14 @ 18:00 Game 4 : Saturday, October 15 @ 18:00 Game 5 : Sunday, October 16 @ 18:00 Game 6 : Monday, October 17 @ 18:00 The Swallows won the regular season series 13-11-1. PACIFIC LEAGUE Orix Buffaloes vs Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks at the Kyocera Dome in Osaka Buffaloes lead the series 1-0. Game 1 : Wednesday, October 12 @ 18:00 Game 2 : Thursday, October 13 @ 18:00 Game 3 : Friday, October 14 @ 18:00 Game 4 : Saturday, October 15 @ 18:00 Game 5 : Sunday, October 16 @ 18:00 Game 6 : Monday, October 17 @ 18:00 The Buffaloes won the regular season series 15-10. NOTE that even if the Swallows and/or the Buffaloes fail to reach the Japan Series they will still get to keep hold of the league pennant and will be recognized as the defending League champions next season. Since 2007 when both leagues began using the current Climax Series format (30 CS total - 15 in each league), the pennant winners failed to reach the Nippon Series on only 6 occasions (3 times in each league).
Wednesday, October 12 Game 1 probables C.L. Yakult : Yasuhiro Ogawa (8-8, 2.82) Hanshin : Yuki Nishi (9-9, 2.18) P.L. Orix : Yoshinobu Yamamoto (15-5, 1.68) SoftBank : Shuta Ishikawa (7-10, 3.37)
Yoshinobu Yamamoto went eight innings allowing just five hits and no walks while striking out 10 as the Orix Buffaloes shutout the SoftBank Hawks 5-0 to take a 2-0 series lead in the Pacific League Climax Series. Yamamoto, the two-time pitching Triple Crown winner, found himself in trouble in the fifth inning when facing a one-out situation with runners on second and third. But he fanned both Tatsuru Yanagimachi and Takuya Kai to end the threat and went on to be named Hero of the Game. Akira Nakamura was the Hawks' biggest threat as the only batter to get two hits off the Buffaloes ace. Yuki Yanagita struggled going 0-for-4 with two strikeouts. Orix took the lead in the fourth inning when Yutaro Sugimoto worked an 0-2 count into a bases-loaed walk against SoftBank starter Shuta Ishikawa. The Hawks gifted the Buffaloes two more runs when southpaw reliever Tomohisa Ohzeki walked both Yuma Tongu and Masahiro Nishino with the bases loaded to make it 3-0. Keisuke Izumi took over on the mound and gave up an RBI single to Sugimoto for 4-0. Masataka Yoshida homered off Hiroshi Kaino in the seventh to complete the scoring while closer Yoshihisa Hirano took over in the ninth to pick up the save. The defeat snaps the Hawks 18-game post-season winning streak that dated back to 2019.
Jose Osuna hit a 3-run home run in the first inning and the Yakult Swallows never looked back in their 7-1 win over the Hanshin Tigers in Game 1 of the Central League Climax Series. The defending Nippon champions lead the series 2-0. Tigers starter Yuki Nishi walked both Tetsuto Yamada and Munetaka Murakami to set up Osuna's drive over the left field fence. Hideki Nagaoka scored in the second inning off Kotaro Yamasaki's two-out single to make it 4-0. Osuna opened the third inning with a double into the right-center alley and eventually crossed home plate on Domingo Santana's sacrifice fly to center to give the Swallows a five run lead.. After the Tigers pulled a run back on Kairi Shimada's RBI single in the top of the sixth, Yakult hit right back with two more runs when Santana took reliever Ren Kajiya deep over the centerfield wall for a two-run homer to complete the scoring. Yasuhiro Ogawa pitched 6-1/3 innings allowing five hits and three walks while striking out four.
Thursday, October 13 Game 2 probables C.L. Yakult : Cy Sneed (9-6, 3.54) Hanshin : Shintaro Fujinami (3-5, 3.38) P.L. Orix : Hiroya Miyagi (11-8, 3.16) SoftBank : Yugo Bandoh (3-3, 3.18)
Yutaro Sugimoto went 3-for-4 including a two-run home run to lead the Buffaloes to a 4-3 win over the Hawks on Thursday and take a commanding 3-0 lead in the PLCS. Alfredo Despaigne gave SoftBank a first inning lead when his fielder's choice groundout to short allowed Masaki Mimori to cross home plate. Orix tied it in the bottom of the frame when Keita Nakagawa scored on Sugimoto's infield hit. The second inning saw two outstanding defensive plays from the outfield, one for each team. Orix centerfielder Steven Moya made a great running catch at the warning track to haul in Takuya Kai's deep fly to center before colliding into the wall. And Softbank's Taisei Makihara nailed Ryoichi Adachi who tried scoring on a sacrifice fly to center. Yuki Yanagita put the Hawks back in front in the third when his double down the first base line allowed Ukyo Shuto to race home from first base. But the Buffaloes quickly leveled the score at 2-2 when Nakagawa scored on Masahiro Nishino's sacrifice fly to center. Sugimoto then gave the home team the lead for the first time when he connected on the first pitch he saw from reliever Tomohisa Ohzeki sending the ball into the left field bleachers. The Hawks scored in the ninth off Buffaloes reliever Shota Abe but left two runners stranded as Abe struck out Despaigne to end the game.
Munetaka Murakami and José Osuna each slugged two-run home runs en route to the Swallows 5-3 victory over the Tigers. The win leaves Yakult just one win away from a return to the Japan Series in their quest to successfully defend their title. Takumu Nakano opened the game with a lead off triple for Hanshin before scoring on Koji Chikamoto's single to right. Following a 40-minute rain delay, Murakami hit a two-out two-run blast to opposite left field to give the Swallows a third inning lead they would never relinquish. Hideki Nagaoka, who has a good argument at claiming the Central League's Rookie of the Year award, hit a solo homer in the fourth, and Osuna added in his two-run blast in the fifth to account for Yakult's remaining scoring for the night. Chikamoto scored off a sacrifice fy in the seventh to reduce the Tigers deficit to 5-2, and a rally saw another run added in the ninth before closer Scott McGough got the potential tying run in Kento Itohara to fly out to pick up the save. https://baseball.yahoo.co.jp/npb/game/2021006287/video/player/8390013#game_board https://baseball.yahoo.co.jp/npb/game/2021006287/video/player/8390022#game_board
Friday, October 14 Game 3 probables C.L. Yakult : Keiji Takahashi (8-2, 2.63) Hanshin : Koyo Aoyagi (13-4, 2.05 / 1-0, 0.00) P.L. Orix : Daiki Tajima (9-3, 2.66) SoftBank : Kodai Senga (11-6, 1.94 / 1-0, 2.25)