[Softbank] 4.5 points behind, 7th in the M! Manager Hiroki Kokubo: "I feel like we have a huge advantage," "pitcher aren't considering extra inning" | Pacific League

[Softbank] 4.5 points difference, M7! Manager Hiroki Kokubo: “I feel like we have a big advantage,” “pitcher are not considering extra inning”

Sports Hochi

2025.9.18(木) 22:30

ファンの声援に手を振って応える小久保裕紀監督（左）らナイン（カメラ・朝田　秀司）

Pacific League Softbank 3-2 Nippon-Ham (18th, Mizuho PayPay Dome)

Softbank The team from the first half of the season won the championship with a come-from-behind victory over the defending champions, the Pilgrims, to win their second straight league championship. Nippon-Ham The win in a head-to-head matchup with the National League’s top-ranked team, the A’s, reduced the magic number for the championship by two games to “7,” the largest margin this season of 4.5 games. With a runner at first base in the 8th inning, Kurihara hit a solo shot over the right field wall to tie the game at 7. Yanagimachi followed with a doble to right field, and the batting line connected, and with one out bases loaded, Kawase chose to push out Walk the final run. The bench decided to replace starter Ozeki in the middle of the third inning and brought in relievers Fujii and Hiroshi Matsumoto, who had a winning pattern in the seventh and eighth innings as the chase unfolded.

Below are the main questions and answers from manager Hiroki Kokubo after the match:

-A stunning comeback victory

“We didn’t score in the seventh inning (with the bases bases loaded one out) but we managed to get another run in the eighth inning, when Kurihara came back from a tied game to turn the game around. pitcher were really putting in the effort today without even thinking about going into extra inning. It was a really good game.”

-We were under pressure in the early stages.

“I was constantly being pushed back. I knew I wouldn’t be able to score many points because it was Kitayama. Ozeki had been doing his best up until that point, but after watching the first and second innings, I decided that there wasn’t a pitch I could hold closer, so I made a bold switch there.”

– In the second inning, Kurihara’s fine play prevented the team from scoring any more points right after they conceded the first goal.

“I think it all came down to Kurihara today. If that play at third base hadn’t gone well, it would have been a one-sided game. His defense there and the tying goal in the eighth inning were really great performances.”

-A sudden turnaround

“Yes. Once the game was tied, Sugiyama was going to pitch (in the ninth inning), but we had no plans to use him if we had been behind. We were banking on the outcome by the eighth inning, so we really were able to turn the game around in the bottom of the eighth, and we were able to close it out ideally.”

-A big win

“I feel like we have a huge advantage, but I still feel like we don’t know what’s going to happen.”

– The decision to replace the ozeki made the match difficult

“That’s right. He was hit pretty well and kept hitting in rapid succession. It was part of the plan to get (Matsumoto) Haru ready early. I hadn’t decided where to start, though.”

-Haru Haru Matsumoto did well to overcome the crisis.

“That’s right. We conceded a point in the next inning, but we came back from that point (the third inning) with zero runs. The first half was starting to become one-sided, but I think we defended well.”

-Bringing in a winning pitcher when the team is behind

“It was up until that point (the eighth inning). If the game had been tied, it would have been Sugiyama. It wasn’t so much a gamble, but rather an early change of pitchers and we didn’t have pitcher available.”

-Kurihara is doing well

“He’s in great shape. Probably the best he’s been this season. He wasn’t in very good shape before his injury, but I’ve told him to take advantage of the good times, so I hope he keeps going.”

-The players’ spirit was also evident.

“That’s only natural. Kondo said, ‘Thank you, I’m sorry.’ Kondo was hit in five At Bat, but I’m glad we were able to win that game.”

Q: I’m sure Kokubo also spoke out.

“That’s true. This kind of season is good too.”

– Nine consecutive games starting from the 20th

“That’s the key point. We’ll organize it and welcome you.”