2026 Persol Climax Series Pacific League Final Stage Game 1: Softbank Hawks 6-4 Nippon-Ham (14th, Mizuho PayPay)

Nippon-Ham suffered a comeback loss to the Softbank Hawks, dropping the first game. The series record now stands at 3 wins and 0 losses for the Softbank Hawks, including the advantage. Starting pitcher Sachiya Yamasaki (34) was unable to keep the game competitive, throwing 73 pitches over 3 and 1/3 innings while allowing 4 hits and 5 runs, partly due to errors by his teammates.

After the game, Manager Shinjo mentioned Gunji, who dropped a fly ball in the fourth inning and allowed the go-ahead run, saying, 'I think the third-base runner was Yamakawa-kun. He might have been a bit rushed in his desire to throw to the cutoff man quickly.' Regarding Shibata's bad throw, he reflected, 'It can't be helped. I'm putting him in the lineup with expectations for his batting.'

Starting pitcher Yamazaki gave up an RBI single to center to Makihara with two outs and runners on first and second in the first inning, allowing the opening run. However, in the second inning, they created a bases loaded chance with one out and tied the game on Yamagata's groundout to shortstop. In the third inning, consecutive hits by Gunji and Nomura created another bases loaded chance with one out, and Shibata hit a sacrifice fly to right to successfully take the lead. Furthermore, they added another run through Mizuno's bases-loaded Walk.

However, they were hit by a fierce attack of 10 hitters in the 4th inning and gave up 5 runs. With one out and the bases loaded, first baseman Shibata made a bad throw to home plate on Yanagimachi's high-bouncing ball. Shoji then hit a timely single to right field to tie the game. Still with one out and the bases loaded, left fielder Gunji unexpectedly dropped Masaki's high fly ball, allowing the go-ahead run. After that, the second pitcher Shimamoto gave up a timely doble to Kondo that hit the left field wall directly, resulting in the 6th run being taken.

They lost the first game due to a breakdown in defense, but the manager looked forward, saying, 'We won't give up until it's decided. We'll keep going until the end, until the very last pitch.'