On October 24, in Game 1 of the "SMBC Japan Series 2026" between Yokohama DeNA and Fukuoka Softbank held at Yokohama Stadium, Fukuoka Softbank win 3 to 1.

Fukuoka Softbank starting Naoyuki Uwasawa pitcher faced a bases loaded crisis with one out in the bottom of the 1st inning due to a Hit by Pitch and hit, but induced a double play to end the threat. After retiring the side in order in the bottom of the 2nd, he allowed the lead-off runner to reach in the following two inning but gave up no runs. He retired the side in order in both the bottom of the 5th and 6th innings.

The lineup wanted to respond to Uwasawa's superb pitching, but despite putting runner in scoring position against the opposing starter Yutaro Ishida, they couldn't get the timely hit. Nevertheless, in the top of the 7th, consecutive hits by Taisei Makihara and Yudai Yamamoto created a chance with no outs and runners on 2nd and 3rd. A runner scored during the following groundout to second by Yudai Shoji, finally taking a 1-0 lead.

Uwasawa held the opponent to no runs in the bottom of the 7th as well and left the mound after that inning. However, in the bottom of the 8th, Yuki Matsumoto pitcher allowed a solo home run to Shugo Maki, tying the game. In the bottom of the 9th, Hernandez pitcher faced a crisis with a runner on 3rd and two outs, but he struck out the final batter to send the game into extra inning.

In the bottom of the 10th, Osuna pitcher faced a walk-off crisis with runners on 1st and 3rd and two outs, but he struck out Keita Sano. Then, in the top of the 11th, the lineup saw lead-off Yuki Yanagita reach base with a doble. The chance expanded to 1st and 2nd with one out following a Hit by Pitch, and they succeeded in taking the lead with an RBI doble by Yudai Shoji. Furthermore, with runners on 2nd and 3rd and one out, they added another run on a Tatsuru Yanagimachi sacrifice fly.

In the bottom of the 11th with a two-run lead, Kazuki Sugiyama pitcher closed the game with no runs. Starter Naoyuki Uwasawa pitcher pitched superbly, throwing 97 pitches over 7 innings, allowing 6 hit, 1 Hit by Pitch, and 4 strike out for no runs. In the lineup, Yamamoto, Tomoya Masaki, and Yudai Shoji each recorded two hit, marking the important first game with a win.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Total
S 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 2 3
D 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1

S Naoyuki Uwasawa-Yuki Matsumoto-Hernandez-○Osuna-S Kazuki Sugiyama
D Yutaro Ishida-Hiromu Ise-Louise-Reynolds-Masumi Hamachi-●Masaki Iwata-Kosuke Baba

Text by Mao Tsutsui