2026 PERSOL Climax Series Pacific League First Stage Game 1: Seibu Lions vs. Nippon-Ham (10th, Belluna Dome)

Seibu Lions pitcher Kona Takahashi expressed his enthusiasm on the 10th for the second game of the CS scheduled for the 11th, where he will be the starting pitcher. This will be his first post-season appearance since the first game in 2022. He spoke with determination, saying, 'It is a fight we cannot afford to lose. It was like that during the regular season too, but this will be even more so. There is a different kind of tension and pressure, but since this is a rare experience, I want to enjoy it including all of that.'

Four years ago, he suffered a loss after giving up five runs in six innings, including a home run to Softbank Hawks' Yanagita. This year, the opponent changes to Nippon-Ham. This season, the record is even at 12 wins, 12 losses, and 1 draw. It will be a head-to-head battle. He intends to focus on careful pitching, stating, "I want to pitch to each batter and throw each pitch one by one without getting greedy."

He stated, "Since many fans are coming, I want to deliver a good performance," and with the support of the home crowd on his side, he proceeded to put up zeros on the scoreboard.