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

Nippon-Ham infielder Yuki Nomura (26) broke the deadlock. In the 5th inning with two outs and a runner on second base and the score tied 0-0, he caught Takahashi's 137 km/h sweeper on a 3-2 count for a go-ahead RBI doble to left-center. Standing on second base, he pointed his index finger toward the first-base dugout to inspire his teammates. He was left out of the starting line-up and did not play the previous day on the 10th. He responded to his deployment as the leadoff hitter in his third at-bat.

With two outs and a runner on second, the number two hitter Kotaro Kiyomiya hit a single to left field. The runner on second attempted to charge for home plate but was easily called out. The play was blocked by the relay from left fielder Hasegawa to third baseman Watanabe. Since the next hitter was the main slugger Reyes, failing to score an additional run was a painful out at the plate.