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.

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 opportunity with one out, and Shibata hit a sacrifice fly to right to take the lead. Furthermore, they added another run on Mizuno's bases-loaded Walk. They chased the opponent's starter, Moinelo, from the game in the middle of the third inning.

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 that hit the left field wall directly to Kondo, resulting in the 6th run. The team finished the season with a league-worst 88 errors. The issues from the regular season were highlighted even in this short-term close contest.

After that, Gunji hit a solo home run off Osuna in the 7th inning to close the gap to two runs, but that was the end of the counterattack. They were shut down by Sugiyama in the final inning, suffering a painful defeat.