2026 PERSOL Climax Series Pacific League First Stage Game 3: Seibu Lions 1-4 Nippon-Ham (12th, Belluna Dome)

The Seibu Lions lost to Nippon-Ham, confirming their elimination in the first stage of the Climax Series. It was a painful consecutive loss after being one win away from advancing. They missed out on reaching the Climax Series Final Stage for the first time in seven years, since winning the league title in 2019.

It was a difficult start from the beginning. The starting pitcher, Takeuchi, struggled. In the second inning, after facing a crisis with runners on first and second with one out, he gave up a timely hit to left field to Nomura, conceding a painful opening run. Furthermore, in the fourth inning, with one out, he gave up a solo home run to Mannami into the left-field stands. In the fifth inning, with a runner on second and no outs, Takeuchi made a bad throw to first base on a bunt by Isobata that rolled toward the third base line (recorded as a sacrifice bunt and a pitcher error). As the crisis expanded, he gave up a right sacrifice fly to Narama.

The lineup began its counterattack in the fifth inning. They created a scoring opportunity with one out and the bases loaded through two hit and a Walk. Genda hit a right sacrifice fly to pull back one run. Furthermore, with a chance at two outs and runners on first and third, Watanabe was retired on a catcher's pop fly.

In the seventh inning, they gave up runs on a wild pitch, allowing the lead to widen again. Although the lineup wanted to rally, they were unable to mount a comeback against the Nippon-Ham relief pitchers.

The team made great strides this season, finishing in second place. They entered the postseason aiming to become the best in Japan, but their path was cut short by a nightmare of two consecutive losses.