SMBC Japan Series 2026 Game 4: Softbank Hawks 4-2 DeNA (28th, Mizuho PayPay)

The Softbank Hawks were crowned champions of Japan for the second consecutive year. They won three consecutive extra inning games starting from the first game, a first in series history, and reached the top with a fastball.

Kondo, batting third, and Kurihara, batting fourth, had no RBIs throughout the series. Even with the main slugging duo—who accounted for 226 out of 707 RBIs during the regular season—failing to produce, they became the champions of Japan in a battle that symbolized the depth of their roster.

In the first game on the 24th (Yokohama), Shoji was the hero, driving in all 3 RBI. In the second game on the 25th (same venue), Masaki hit a solo home run to take the lead, followed by an insurance run from Shoji's timely hit. Immediately after allowing a comeback, pinch-hitter Yamakawa hit a game-tying solo home run in the 9th inning, and Kawamura's go-ahead solo home run in the 10th extra inning secured the consecutive victories.

In Game 3, which moved to Fukuoka, Makihara hit a game-tying RBI single in the ninth inning. In the 10th extra inning, Masaki hit a walk-off home run. On this day, former DeNA player Yamamoto recorded 3 RBIs, and Yanagita delivered the game-winning hit.