The Pacific League’s second-ranked Nippon Ham defeated the third-ranked Orix to reach the final stage. He won three consecutive games after two consecutive losses in the final stage, but failed to overcome the last crisis. Photo capture = Nippon-Ham Fighters SNS
Nihonham swallowed his regret. On the 20th, he lost Game 6 of the Climax Series Final Stage with Softbank 1-2 and failed to advance to the Japan Series. Photo capture = Nippon-Ham Fighters SNS
Softbank beat Nippon Ham 2-1 in Game 6 of the Climax Series Final Stage on the 20th. He made it to the Japan Series with 4 wins and 3 losses in the series. Photo capture = Softbank Hawks SNS
Three wins in a row after two straight losses. Adding one more win would complete ‘The Downbeat Series’, but it flew away in front of my eyes. The Nippon Ham Fighters, which had been on a scary rise, failed to advance to the Japan Series. On the 20th, they lost 1-2 to the Softbank Hawks in Game 6 of the Pacific League Climax Series (CS) Final Stage at the Fukuoka Paypay Dome. Softbank, which started with one win in the league’s No. 1 advantage, won four games and lost three games, reviving at the edge of the cliff. After three consecutive losses, he won by one point and reached the Japan Series for the second consecutive year.
The Hanshin Tigers, the winner of the Central League, first reached the Japan Series. He is preparing for his third consecutive win over the Yokohama BayStars. Hanshin aims to win the Japan Series for the first time in two years following 2023. SoftBank looks to the top for the first time in five years since 2020.
The final stage seemed to end blandly. Softbank has won two consecutive games against Nippon Ham, which came up through the first stage. The team won the first round 2 to 1 on the 15th and the second round 3 to 0 on the 16th. He overwhelmed Nippon Ham with a strong mound. Game 1 starter Livan Moinello scored seven scoreless innings, and Game 2 starter Kohei Arihara pitched eight scoreless innings.
He secured three wins first, including one advantage. However, he lost three consecutive games with ‘1 win’ remaining. In the third game, he had an 0-6 Youngbong defeat and was completely defeated 3-9 in the fourth game. He gave up one to seven until Game 5 on the 19th. 3 wins and 3 losses in the series. Softbank was rather crowded. Nippon Ham fought back fiercely in their first return match in two years.
Game 6 took place on the 20th. The two starters who faced each other in Game 1 took the mound side by side. Cuban left-hander Softbank Moello and high school senior right-hander Nihonham Da
Softbank lost four consecutive games to Yokohama in last year’s Japan Series. He succeeded in advancing to the Japan Series again this year. He is aiming to win the title for the first time in five years since 2020. Photo capture = Softbank Hawks SNS
Photo capture=Nihonham Fighters SNS
The bitter hitters had a tight pitching battle. Monello allowed one run in seven innings and Datsu allowed two runs (one earned) in five ⅔ innings. Both teams’ starters played their part.
At the bottom of the fifth inning, when the score was 1-1, the game was decided. Softbank’s lineup hit three consecutive hits with two outs and one base. With the bases loaded with two outs, No. 2 Kawase Hiruka hit a timely hit to the right. 2-1.
Softbank went straight to the final stage last year as No. 1 in the league. He easily beat second-place Nippon Ham with three consecutive wins to advance to the Japan Series. Anyone can see that the championship was likely to win. The opponent was the Yokohama BayStars, who started third in the Central League. The second-place Hanshin Tigers and the first-place Yomiuri Giants made a stir and even came to the Japan Series. However, no matter how strong the momentum was, Softbank’s power was very strong. Softbank grabbed both the first and second games and pulled the flow. It seemed that the first win in four years was just around the corner.
But there was an unexpected twist waiting. After winning two games against Yokohama, they lost four games in a row. He was reduced to a scapegoat in Yokohama’s series of demagogues.
Hanshin aims to win the Japan Series for the first time in two years following 2023. Ace Murakami posing during the 2023 victory parade. Photo capture = Hanshin Tigers SNS
There is now the last game left. The first-place teams in both leagues will clash at the top without the same relegation as last year. Softbank and Hanshin’s 2025 Japan Series (best-of-four games) will begin on the 25th.
Reporter Min Chang-ki huelva@sportschosun.com
AloJapan.com