2025 Persol Climax Series Pacific Final Stage Game 1: Softbank 2x-1 Nippon-Ham = 10 extra inning = (15th, Mizuho PayPay Dome)

League champion Softbank defeated second-place Nippon-Ham Fighters in a 10th-inning walk walk-off extra inning. With a one-win advantage, they were now 2-0. With the score tied in the 10th inning and bases loaded loaded with one out, infielder Hotaka Yamakawa (33) hit a single to left field to decide the game. Nippon-Ham Fighters sent the game into extra innings with a solo home run by Reyes in the eighth inning to extra inning, but repeated missed opportunities early on meant they needed four wins from a maximum of five games remaining to advance to the Japan Series.

After the game, manager Shinjo praised him, saying, "He did a great job." In the 10th extra inning, with one out bases loaded, Kanemura was replaced by Tamai. Yamakawa hit the first pitch. The ball was a bit slow, but it bounced over third baseman 's head, becoming walk-off hit. "It was unlucky at the end. Was that a grounder to third base?" he said.

Related News

・ [Video] Was it a grounder to third base? No, it was walk-off hit...
・ [Breaking News] Yamakawa, who hit the ball, said, "I thought it was a grounder to third base" and "Oh no, it's over."
・ [Breaking News] Manager Tsuyoshi Shinjo: "There are still two more. We need to switch gears."
-Reyes' huge tying hit: "home run, whatever it is. We lost."
​Nippon-Ham starter Kota Kota Tatsu "I thought we'd give up about 10 runs."