2026 Persol Climax Series Pacific League Final Stage Game 3: Softbank Hawks vs Nippon-Ham (16th, Mizuho PayPay)

Softbank Hawks pitcher Yugo Maeda allowed the opening run. With two outs and runners on first and second in the first inning, he gave up an RBI single to right field to Kotaro Kiyomiya. The team entered this game having moved within one win of reaching the Japan Series after come-from-behind wins in both the first game on the 14th and the second game on the 15th.

Yu Maeda lost his rhythm at the start of the game. He gave up a lead-off doble to Gunji, followed by a fastball Walk to Mizuno. Although he held firm to get two outs by getting Reyes to swing and struck out and Nomura to fly out to left, he conceded the first run. With runners still on first and third and two outs, he got Mannami to fly out to second to prevent any further runs.

The left-hander made a leap this season with 12 wins, 1 loss, and a 2.10 ERA. If a pitcher within their first three years out of high school earns a win in the CS Final Stage, it will be the first since Miyagi of the Orix Buffaloes in 2022. He started three games against Nippon-Ham this season, with 1 win, 0 losses, and a 4.20 ERA. Although he secured a win with a strong performance of seven scoreless innings in their matchup on June 21 (ES CON), he allowed 4 runs in 3 innings on May 24 (Mizuho PayPay) and 3 runs in 5 innings on August 20 (ES CON).

The CS Final Stage started with a two-win advantage. On the night of the 15th, they allowed the opening run in the first inning, but with the score tied 2-2 in the 9th inning and one out, Kurihara hit a dramatic walk-off grand slam. They snatched the win with a dramatic shot that made him only the second person to do so in the CS since Nippon-Ham's Sledge in 2009.