2026 Persol Climax Series Pacific League Final Stage Game 2: Softbank Hawks vs. Nippon-Ham (15th, Mizuho PayPay)
A birthday song was played during Softbank Hawks player Taisei Makihara's first at-bat.
Makihara, who turned 34 on this day, entered the batter's box as the lead-off hitter in the second inning. The entire stadium then celebrated with a chorus. As Makihara showed his gratitude without taking his stance, Nippon-Ham's Kitayama also showed consideration by waiting for the song to finish while staying off the plate. The result was a fly out to center field.
![[Illustration] Super rare! Taisei Makihara gets a year's worth of ramen with a "windfall three-run home run"](https://hochi.news/images/2026/08/11/20260811-OHT1I51478-C.jpg)
![[Scoreboard] Softbank Hawks vs. Nippon-Ham](https://hochi.news/assets/v2/img/hochi_news_sns.png)
![[Softbank Hawks] Naoyuki Uwasawa gives up the opening run without recording a single out, allowing 2 runs in the first inning.](https://hochi.news/images/2026/10/15/20261015-OHT1I51589-L.jpg)
![[Softbank Hawks] The team's oldest player returns to the starting line-up! Yuki Yanagita, who missed Game 1 due to neck pain, will bat 5th as the DH. If they win, they will be one step away from advancing to the Japan Series.](https://hochi.news/images/2026/10/15/20261015-OHT1I51533-L.jpg)
![[Nippon-Ham] Bold changes to the starting line-up for a comeback victory: Kotaro Kiyomiya starts as the third batter, and the most-wins right-hander Koki Kitayama takes the mound... On the brink of elimination with a 0-4 record if they lose.](https://hochi.news/images/2026/10/15/20261015-OHT1I51543-L.jpg)
![[Miyazaki PL] Jun Maeda pitched well, allowing 3 runs in 6 innings; Emil hit a game-tying RBI, but the team lost a close game](https://media.insight.pacificleague.com/webp/MysOhSZU3KLHaffy6NmFV5ypb1wA9qYidi06XYeN.webp)
