SMBC Japan Series 2026 Game 4 Softbank Hawks vs DeNA (28th, Mizuho PayPay Dome)

Softbank Hawks pitcher Yugo Maeda left the mound after pitching 4 2/3 innings, allowing 3 hits and 2 runs while recording 4 strike outs. Despite being in his third year out of high school, the 21-year-old left-hander posted an impressive regular season record of 12 wins and 1 loss with a 2.10 ERA. In a game where the team was one win away from their second consecutive championship, he was entrusted with the major role of making his first appearance and first start in the Japan Series.

In the first inning, after allowing the lead-off batter Watarai to reach on a Walk, he gave up a two-run home run over the right-field fence to Sano with one out and a runner on first, allowing the opening score. He showed a recovery by retiring three batters in a row in both the second and third innings.

In the fourth inning, with two outs, he gave up a doble to left-center to Matsuo, his senior by one year from their time at Osaka Toin. Although this put him in a pinch, he managed to retire the next batter, Mimori, on a fly ball to center. In the fifth inning, immediately after his team's lineup had taken the lead, he allowed a hit to right field by Watarai with two outs. At that point, with Maki coming to the plate, Manager Kokubo decided to switch to the second pitcher, Go Suzuki. He was just one out away from being eligible for the win. Maeda reflected regretfully on the runs in the first inning, saying, 'When you give up points like that in the first inning, the team can't get into a flow and the rhythm gets disrupted. I had to be more persistent.'

For the club, Shota Takeda became the winning pitcher in the 2014 Japan Series against the Hanshin Tigers at the age of 21 years and 6 months. Yu Maeda was on the verge of becoming the youngest pitcher to record a win in the Japan Series for the club since its relocation to Fukuoka (at 21 years and 2 months).