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

The Softbank Hawks won the first game with a comeback victory. The three-time consecutive league champions also started the Climax Series with a win for the third year in a row. Including the two-win advantage, they now have a 3-0 record and are just two wins away from advancing to the Japan Series.

The starter Moinelo unexpectedly left the mound after giving up 3 runs in the middle of the 3rd inning. He was replaced after allowing 2 runs on 2 hit and 3 Walk in the 3rd, making the score 1-3. Although it was his shortest outing as a starter, the rookie responded to Manager Kokubo's decision. With the bases loaded and 2 outs, the second-round draft pick right-hander Suguru Suzuki came on in relief and put out the fire by getting Yamagata to ground out to shortstop. Furthermore, he retired the side in order in the 4th inning, stopping Nippon-Ham's momentum and setting the stage for his teammates' counterattack.

The lineup turned the game around with five runs in the fourth inning. After a hit by the leadoff hitter Kurihara created a bases loaded situation with one out, Yanagimachi's grounder to first induced an error by Shibata, closing the gap to one run. With the bases loaded still, Shoji hit a game-tying single to right field. Masaki then hit a go-ahead sacrifice fly to left. As the opportunity expanded due to an error by Gunji, two more runs were added through Shuto's sacrifice fly and Kondo's RBI doble. After taking a three-run lead in one burst, the relief pitchers held on for the win.

The winning pitcher was Go Suzuki. This was the first win by a rookie in their Climax Series debut since Hamaguchi of DeNA in Game 2 of the 2017 Central League Final Stage, and the first for the Softbank Hawks since Yanase in Game 2 of the 2006 First Stage. He is the third rookie pitcher for the Hawks to record a win in the Climax Series, following Kaino who earned two wins in 2019.