[Softbank Hawks] Magic number reduced by two to 16. Success in relief strategy after pulling Yugo Maeda in the middle of the fourth inning | Pacific League.com

[Softbank Hawks] Magic number reduced by two to 16; the relief strategy succeeded after deciding to pull Yugo Maeda in the middle of the fourth inning

Sports Hochi

September 4, 2026 20:59

In the 7th inning with two outs and the bases loaded, Yamamoto Yudai hit a two-run RBI doble to left-center to add to the lead, as the Softbank Hawks players celebrate (Camera: Yoshimura Haruko).

◆ Pacific League: Softbank Hawks 8-2 Seibu Lions (4th, Mizuho PayPay Dome)

The first-place Softbank Hawks defeated the second-place Seibu Lions, and their magic number decreased by two to sixteen.

In the first inning, Masaki took the lead with his sixth leadoff hitter home run of the season, breaking the club record, and added two more runs in the second inning. In the seventh inning, with the score at 3-2, they pulled away with Yu Yamamoto's RBI doble and Yanagimachi's three-run homer.

Maeda Yu, who has been on an undefeated 11-game winning streak since the start of the season, was pulled in the fourth inning after the lead was narrowed to one run with one out and runners on first and second. The second pitcher, Suzuki Go, acted as a closer for five hitter and retired them perfectly to earn his second win.