2026 Persol Climax Series Pacific League Final Stage Game 1: Softbank Hawks vs. Nippon-Ham (14th, Mizuho PayPay)

Nippon-Ham's starting pitcher Sachiya Yamasaki was pulled from the mound after giving up five runs midway through the fourth inning.

After facing a crisis with two outs and runners on first and second in the first inning, he gave up a timely hit to center by Makihara. He conceded a painful opening run. After that, he continued with a scoreless pitch, but struggled in the fourth inning while holding a two-run lead. After facing a bases loaded crisis due to one hit and two walks/Hit by Pitches, Shibata made a bad throw to home plate on Yanagimachi's ground ball to first, resulting in runs. With the lead cut to one run, he was removed from the mound at this point.

The negative spiral does not stop. Okawa, who came on in relief, gave up a right-field hit to Shoji, tying the game. Furthermore, with one out and the bases loaded, Gunji dropped Masaki's fly ball to left (recorded as a sacrifice fly and an error). Errors piled up, and the lead was surrendered.

They are more than 10 games behind the first-place Softbank Hawks in the season, and in this final stage, which is a best-of-seven series, the Softbank Hawks have a two-win advantage. Yamazaki was entrusted with the first game, which will greatly influence the momentum. Although he was a reliever at the start of the season, he has gone 5-1 with a 2.32 ERA since returning to the starting rotation in June. He was selected for the first game after producing strong results.