The third round of the SMBC Japan Series 2025 was held in Koshien, with Softbank coming from behind to win against Hanshin Tigers to improve to 2-1. He carried runner in scoring position in 7 inning, and even in defense, he made 2 errors and 1 catch. It was a series of pinches, but starter Liván Moinelo pitcher (29) threw 1 runs in the 6th inning in the best ERA confrontation with Hanshin Tigers Hiroto Saiki pitcher (26). From the 7th inning, the relief team also struggled. He did not step on the home plate and won the game by one run.
The substitute No. 4 hitter turned the tide. With one out in the fourth inning and the score at 0-1, Softbank 's Yamakawa hit a solo home run to the left of the back screen to tie the game. "I didn't miss the easy pitch and hit it." The big hitter, who was not in the starting starting line-up in Game 1, hit home runs in two consecutive games. It was his first time at Koshien in three years, and he made the "Dosukoi" sound.
Kondo, due to a sore left side, concentrated on hitting in place of Kondo in a hostile environment without a DH system. Against such a backdrop, the troubled No. 3 Yanagimachi also showed his mettle, hitting a winning pitch triple to right field from second base with one out in the sixth inning. He had picked 4 Walk up until the second game, but 6 At Bat 1 hit brought the final point with a spirited hit, saying, "I put pressure on myself that this was the only place to hit, and it was the result of my desperate efforts.
Yamakawa also made an error in the seventh inning, allowing the leadoff hitter to reach base. Although he still needs to reflect on his performance, he fulfilled his role as the No. 4 batter by hitting one Home Run and Walk, reaching all bases.
This was the third time that the team had come from behind win all three of the opening games of the Japan Series, following 1957 (win games 1, 2, and 3, against The Giants) and 1980 (Kintetsu win games 1 and 2, and Hiroshima won game 3). Kondo will likely be on standby as a pinch hitter from game 4 onwards, but the entire batting line-up will work together to secure win. (Hatanaka Yuji)
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