2026 Persol Climax Series Pacific League Final Stage Game 3: Softbank Hawks vs Nippon-Ham (16th, Mizuho PayPay)
Nippon-Ham succeeded in taking the lead.
They did not miss the mistake. In the fifth inning with the score tied and a runner on first with no outs, Masaki made a bad throw to second on Tamiya's ground ball to first. The opportunity expanded to runners on second and third with no outs. Although Narama and Gunji were retired, Mizuno hit a timely infield hit to second. They took the lead with a persistent hit.
They are more than 10 games behind the league-leading Softbank Hawks in the season standings, and this final stage is a best-of-seven series that started with Softbank Hawks holding a two-win advantage. Currently on a two-game losing streak, Nippon-Ham is on the brink of elimination with a record of 0 wins and 4 losses from their perspective. They aim to secure a win in the third game to keep their hopes of a comeback alive.
![[Scoreboard] Softbank Hawks vs. Nippon-Ham](https://hochi.news/assets/v2/img/hochi_news_sns.png)
![[Nippon-Ham] Caught up in a do-or-die match; Takayuki Kato, who had been pitching well, allows a timely hit to Shoji... Game 3 starts with a record of 0 wins and 4 losses](https://hochi.news/images/2026/10/16/20261016-OHT1I51497-L.jpg)
![[Nippon-Ham] Manager Tsuyoshi Shinjo's batting order change hits the mark! Yuya Gunji in the leadoff spot opens the way, while Kotaro Kiyomiya, who hit the opening RBI, calls it his 'on the edge hitting'... Aiming for a major comeback victory after starting with 0 wins and 4 losses.](https://hochi.news/images/2026/10/16/20261016-OHT1I51466-L.jpg)
![[Nippon-Ham] On the brink with 0 wins and 4 losses. To achieve a major comeback breakthrough, Manager Tsuyoshi Shinjo boldly reshuffled the starting line-up, placing Yuya Gunji as the first batter and Reyes as the third.](https://hochi.news/images/2026/10/16/20261016-OHT1I51431-L.jpg)
