[Softbank Hawks] Kensuke Kondo, the "No-Hit Samurai," hits a home run in the opening game: "I was able to do the kind of batting I wanted to do" off his WBC teammate, Hiromi Ito of Nippon-Ham | Pacific League

[Softbank Hawks] Kensuke Kondo, the "No-Hit Samurai," hits a home run in the opening game: "I was able to do the kind of batting I wanted to do" off his WBC teammate, Nippon-Ham 's Hiromi Ito

Sports Hochi

March 27, 2026 19:41

In the third inning with one out, Kensuke Kondo hit a game-tying solo Home Run over the right field fence (Photo by Hidenori Baba).

◆ Pacific League: Softbank Hawks vs. Nippon-Ham (27th, Mizuho PayPay Stadium)

In the third inning with one out, Softbank Hawks 's Kensuke Kondo connected with fork from his WBC teammate, Hiromi Ito, and hit a game-tying solo home run to right field, his first of the season.

The genius hitter who finished 13 At Bat without a hit for Japan in the WBC made an appearance starting line-up in the opening game as "No. 2, right wing" and hit a convincing arch the moment he hit his second batter. I was able to catch it perfectly. I think I was able to do the kind of batting I was looking for," he said.