2026 PERSOL Climax Series Pacific League First Stage Game 2: Seibu Lions vs. Nippon-Ham (11th, Belluna Dome)

The Seibu Lions will face Nippon-Ham at their home ground, Belluna Dome, with a spot in the Climax Series (CS) Final Stage on the line. A win or a draw in this game will secure their advancement to the Final Stage.

In Game 1 on the 10th, Alexander Canario outfielder, who hit a walk-off homer, was named "leadoff right fielder," and Taiga Hirasawa infielder, who hit the opening homer, was "second batter DH," both starting for the second consecutive day. They entered Game 2 without changing the lineup.

The starting pitcher is Kona Takahashi. This will be his first post-season appearance since Game 1 in 2022. He entered the bullpen on the 10th, two days before his scheduled start, for final adjustments and expressed his enthusiasm, saying, 'It is a game we cannot afford to lose. It was the same during the regular season, but this will be even more of that kind of battle. There will be a different kind of tension and pressure, but since this is a rare experience, I want to include all of that and enjoy it.'

Seibu Lions' starting line-up is as follows:

1 (Right) Canario

2 (DH) Hirasawa

3 (capture) Kojima

4. Nevin

5 (2) Ishii

6 (Left Field) Hasegawa

7 (3) Watanabe

8 (shortstop) Takizawa

9 (Center) Nishikawa

Starting pitcher: Kosei Takahashi