2026 Persol Climax Series Pacific League Final Stage Game 2: Softbank Hawks 6-2 Nippon-Ham (15th, Mizuho PayPay)

The Softbank Hawks have won two consecutive games since Game 1, putting them one step away from advancing to the Japan Series. In the bottom of the 9th inning with one out and the bases loaded and the score tied 2-2, Kurihara hit a Home Run over center field for a walk-off win. With back-to-back comeback wins, they now lead 4-0, including the two-win advantage.

Starting pitcher Uwasawa gave up 2 runs in the first inning. With no outs and runners on first and second, he gave up an RBI hit to Kotaro Kiyomiya. After allowing the lead before recording a single out, he gave up a second run during a double play by Manami with the bases loaded and no outs. However, he recovered from the second inning onwards, finishing with 4 hits and 2 runs over 6 innings. He handed the game over to the relief pitchers with the score tied.

In the third inning, the offense started with Shoji hitting a triple to center field. The following batter, Masaki, hit a timely doble that struck the left field wall, and then with one out and a runner on third, Kondo hit a game-tying single to right field. The reliable main slugger recorded an RBI for the second consecutive game. After returning the game to a clean slate in the early stages, their clutch hitting shone through in the final stages of the low-scoring match.

This is the second time a walk-off grand slam has occurred in the CS, following Sledge (Nippon-Ham) in Game 1 of the 2009 Second Stage.