I went all the way.
Last year, in the Pacific League, first and second place were decided in the final game of the season on October 2nd. Softbank Hawks lost first place in the 143rd and final game. At one point, they led by 11.5 games, but were caught by the Orix Buffaloes and missed out on winning the Pacific League. In a game that could have been a draw, they suffered a 3-5 upset loss to Chiba Lotte Marines, who had already secured Class B (4th to 6th place out of 6 teams). On the same day, Orix recorded a 5-2 comeback win over the Rakuten Eagles and lost their second consecutive league game.
Softbank and Orix, who entered the last game ranked 1st and 2nd by 1 game, recorded 76 wins, 2 draws, and 65 losses, with a winning percentage of 50.39%. Orix, ahead of Softbank with 15 wins and 10 losses during the season, took first place. Orix gained momentum and defeated Yakult Swallows, first place in the Central League, and lifted the Japan Series championship trophy for the first time in 26 years.
This year, Oryx comfortably secured first place. However, 2nd to 4th places are decided in the final game of the pennant race. A bloody ranking battle unfolds until the last day.
Second-place Softbank played in an away game against Rakuten in Sendai on the 7th. If we won this game, we were guaranteed 2nd place.
The Japanese professional baseball postseason, Climax Series, gives a clear advantage to the top teams. The First Stage, which is played between 2nd and 3rd places, and the Final Stage, where the winning team determines the 1st place team and the team that advances to the Japan Series, are all played at the home stadium of the top team.
Rakuten must win the final match against Chiba Lotte on the 9th to advance to the postseason in third place. Photo source = Rakuten Eagles SNS
Rakuten’s main gun Asamura. Photo source = Rakuten Eagles SNS
Softbank, which was trailing 0-2, succeeded in turning the score around 3-2 in the top of the 6th inning. Number 2 Hikaru Kawase hit a timely hit with 1 RBI, and number 3 Yuki Yanagita hit a 2-run home run. They added one point each in the 4th and 5th innings to take a 5-2 lead.
However, in the bottom of the 6th inning, he hit a 3-run home run against opponent #6 Ryosuke Tatsumi. The game ended in a 5-5 tie in the 12th overtime. Even if at least 3rd place was decided, it was a painful loss. In the final game of last season, he gave up a 3-run home run in the bottom of the 6th inning.
Chiba Lotte suffered a 1-4 upset loss against Orix in their home game that day. In the top of the 4th inning when the score was tied 1-1, No. 5 Yutaro Sugimoto hit the final home run.
With one game left, 2nd place Softbank and 3rd place Chiba Lotte are one game ahead. Rakuten is in 4th place, 0.5 games behind Chiba Lotte.토토사이트
On the 9th, the match between Rakuten and Chiba Lotte will be held at 2 p.m., and the match between Orix and Softbank will be held at 6 p.m. Rakuten
If Softbank beats Chiba Lotte, 2nd place is confirmed regardless of the final match result. Rakuten enters the Climax Series in 3rd place. If Chiba Lotte wins, Softbank must win or tie to play fall baseball in second place.
