[Nippon-Ham] Relief strategy hits the mark! Second pitcher Kenta Uehara strikes out Kondo with the bases loaded and two outs in a tie game. Koki Kitayama leaves the mound in the middle of the 7th inning after giving up 2 runs... A loss would put them on the brink at 0 wins and 4 losses.

Sports Hochi
Nippon-Ham's Kenta Uehara, who took the mound as the second pitcher (Camera by Haruna Onitsuka)

2026 Persol Climax Series Pacific League Final Stage Game 2: Softbank Hawks vs. Nippon-Ham (15th, Mizuho PayPay)

Nippon-Ham escaped a pinch.

A real challenge came in the tied seventh inning. Kitayama, who had been closer in two runs up to this point, put two outs and runners on second with Walk and sacrifice bunt with one out, and declared Masaki intentional walk. Kitayama was taken out of the game. Uehara, the second pitcher, threw a wild pitch with two outs and runners on second and third, then Walk to Shuto. With two outs and bases loaded, he faced Kondo and got one of the league's strongest hitter grounders to shortstop.

They finished the season more than 10 games behind the first-place Softbank Hawks, and this final stage is a best-of-seven series that started with Softbank Hawks holding a two-win advantage. After suffering a comeback loss in the first game yesterday on the 14th, Nippon-Ham currently trails with 0 wins and 3 losses. They are aiming to bounce back starting from the second game.

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[Nippon-Ham] Relief strategy hits the mark! Second pitcher Kenta Uehara strikes out Kondo with the bases loaded and two outs in a tie game. Koki Kitayama leaves the mound in the middle of the 7th inning after giving up 2 runs... A loss would put them on the brink at 0 wins and 4 losses.