PERSOL’s official YouTube channel, “Pacific League,” has released a video titled “Highlights of the First Half of 2026: walk-off [Supported by Sanwa Shutter].” Starting with the first home run of the 2026 season—hit by walk-off Chiba Lotte Marines and Kyota Fujiwara—we’ll highlight some of the most memorable games from the first half of the season.

Interleague highlights! Two consecutive nights of "marvelous" games!

The highlight of the first half was Saitama Seibu Lions 's first interleague championship. In particular, Shinya Hasegawa 's back-to-back walk-off win games became an essential match for looking back on the team's first championship.

First, on June 9, in the first round against Hiroshima at home. In the bottom of the ninth with a 3-3 lead, Masayuki Kuwahara leadoff reached base at hit, but with Junichiro Kishi hit and other hits, the game was bases loaded with one out. Here, Hasegawa repelled a high breaking ball to right field, successfully tying a walk-off win.

The game ended the next day with that joy. In the ninth inning, Hiroshima caught up, and the game entered the extra inning game with a 4-4 lead. In the bottom of the tenth, with one out, Kuwabara hit a infield hit, followed by Natsuo Takizawa 's sacrifice bunt, setting up the walk-off with two outs and a runner on second. Hasegawa, carrying the fans' expectations, stepped up to the plate and hit the ball to left, where second base runner Kuwahara sprinted and delivered a powerful head-slide to score.

Just like Hasegawa's performance, the two consecutive games ended in a "Marvelous!" style. The team accelerated to the top of interleague play with this momentum.

For Tohoku Rakuten Eagles, this once-a-year Tokyo game, a thrilling 4-hour and 38-minute battle, became a memorable victory.

The game on June 22nd was Tokyo Dome 's once-a-year event at Tokyo Rakuten Eagles. The game continued with both teams scoring runs even into extra inning innings, and it was tied 7-7 going into the final inning.

In the bottom of the 12th extra inning, with two outs, Tsuyoshi Ishihara drew Walk. In this tense situation, Hiroto Kobukata successfully stolen base second base, creating a chance for walk-off. Fumiya Kurokawa, who had been hitless up to this point, hit a low breaking ball well, sending the ball over the left fielder's head. Kurokawa clenched his fist, confident of win, while a smiling Kobukata crossed home plate to win.

The game, which began with the announcement of play ball at 6:01 PM, ended dramatically at 10:39 PM. It was a memorable win, marking the first win for manager Masato Yoshii in his third game in charge, and the first professional win for second-year pitcher Haruto Nakagomi.

Other videos currently available include: Orix Buffaloes and Ryoma Nishikawa player’s skillful hit (April 9), Fukuoka Softbank and Kenta Tanigawara player’s first-ever walk-off timely hit (June 11), Chiba Lotte Marines ’s two consecutive games of walk-off win (June 11–12), Hokkaido Nippon-Ham and Tatsuki Mizuno player’s walk-off home run that led the team to a 9-game winning streak (June 13), and—truly a star performer! And, Fukuoka Softbank ’s Yuki Yanagita ’s walk-off hit (July 23)—you can look back on all 21 of the best moments from the first half of the season, one after another. Be sure to check them out.

Text by Ayako Kikuchi