BayStars, Fighters Advance to Championship Series

The Nippon-Ham Fighters win Game 2 on a walk-off (Photo: Sponichi)

What a matchup between Yu Darvish and Yoshinobu Yamamoto in the NLDS — the best NPB pitcher of the late 2000s and early 2010s versus the best NPB pitcher of the 2020s! It was the first time two Japanese pitchers ever faced off in MLB postseason history. Darvish pitched incredibly well in the series, but Yamamoto’s five shutout frames helped the Dodgers advance to the NLCS.

From one postseason to another, let’s see which NPB teams advanced after a thrilling opening round!

Central League: DeNA Baystars @ Hanshin Tigers

Game 1

DeNA took the series opener behind three-hit performances from Shugo Maki and Keita Sano and a clutch two-run double by Tyler Austin in the 7th. Tigers ace Hiroto Saiki couldn’t get into a rhythm, allowing ten baserunners in five innings before being pinch-hit for in the 5th.

BayStars ace Katsuki Azuma had to exit the game in the 5th after getting injured while running the bases, but five relievers entered to finish the job. Down 3-0 in the bottom of the 9th, Hanshin got one back on a Seiya Kinami single and got the winning run to the plate with two outs, but veteran pinch-hitter Fumihito Haraguchi flew out to end the rally.

Game 2

The BayStars completed the sweep in convincing fashion, blowing out the Tigers 10-3 in front of a stunned Koshien crowd. Shota Morishita got Hanshin on the board early with a solo homer, but DeNA immediately answered with four runs off southpaw Haruto Takahashi in the 2nd.

Andre Jackson dealt with some traffic on the bases but held the lead for the BayStars with nine strikeouts across 5.2 innings. In a desperate move, Hanshin turned to reigning CL MVP Shoki Murakami in relief, but DeNA blew the game open with a six-run 7th to go up 10-1 as Mike Ford and Keita Sano homered. Unfortunately, BayStars third baseman Toshiro Miyazaki was also injured in the inning.

The Tigers got two runs back for retiring manager Akinobu Okada, but the 2023 magic ran out as the defending Japan Series champions were eliminated. The BayStars move on to face the Yomiuri Giants, who start the series with an automatic 1-0 advantage.

Pacific League: Lotte Marines @ Nippon-Ham Fighters

Game 1

Roki Sasaki got the ball in game one and did not disappoint, delivering eight shutout innings in one of the biggest games of his young career. He allowed two walks in the 1st but settled down and carved up the Fighters lineup, not allowing a runner in scoring position until the 7th inning. His fastball was clocked at 96-98 mph throughout the game, and he relied heavily on his slider, which he worked on with Yu Darvish during the WBC and became more comfortable throwing this season.

The Marines scored on two solo shots off the bats of third baseman Shogo Nakamura and DH Gregory Polanco in the 5th and 7th innings. Nippon-Ham got the tying run to the plate in the 8th inning, but Sasaki blew a 97 mph fastball by outfielder Daiki Asama to finish his afternoon. He threw 112 pitches and allowed just five hits while punching out nine batters. Naoya Masuda got the save for Lotte, putting them up 1-0 in the series.

Game 2

The Marines took a 2-0 lead again with two more long balls, this time by Hisanori Yasuda and Katsuya Kakunaka in the 5th and 7th innings. The Fighters bats stayed cold against Lotte starter Kazuya Ojima, who held them scoreless through the first six innings. But Nippon-Ham finally broke through in the 7th inning after walks by Franmil Reyes and Yuya Gunji led to Ojima’s exit. With Rikuto Yokoyama taking over, a wild pitch advanced the runners, and Ariel Martinez’s RBI groundout brought the Fighters within one. Despite another opportunity for the Fighters in the 8th, the Marines stayed in front as Daiki Asama popped out with the tying run on first base.

With their season on the line, the Fighters turned to traditional starter Sachiya Yamasaki in late relief. He held Lotte scoreless, keeping his team within striking distance. Closer Naoya Masuda entered with a chance to clinch the series and struck out Reyes for the first out, but superstar Chusei Mannami dispatched a fastball deep into the left-field stands, sending the game to extras.

Yamasaki kept the momentum on Nippon-Ham’s side with a clean top of the 10th, and former Red Sox reliever Hirokazu Sawamura entered for Lotte in the bottom frame. After a walk to Go Matsumoto and a single by Kotaro Kiyomiya, Asama delivered a dramatic walk-off knock, keeping the Fighters alive and forcing a decisive Game 3.

Game 3

The Fighters found themselves coming from behind for the third straight game as Lotte put up two runs against Koki Kitayama in the 2nd inning. In the 3rd, Kotaro Kiyomiya lined a two-run single with two outs to draw even. It was the first time they scored before the 7th inning in the series. The Fighters called on their bullpen early, bringing in team saves leader Seigi “Justice” Tanaka in the 5th. He immediately struck out Neftali Soto on three pitches, setting the tone for the rest of his successful outing.

Marines starter Atsuki Taneichi settled in and retired ten consecutive Fighters between the end of the 3rd and the 6th inning, but Nippon-Ham rallied in the 7th with a pair of walks and an error. Taneichi had thrown over 100 pitches, but Masato Yoshii decided to keep him in the game, and it backfired as he allowed a two-run triple to shortstop Tatsuki Mizuno, putting the Fighters up 4-2.

In the 8th, the Fighters added an insurance run when Kiyomiya stole second, advanced to third on the throw, and was driven in by Mannami. Veteran relievers Takahide Ikeda and Naoki Miyanishi shut down the Marines in the final two innings, booking the Fighters’ ticket to Fukuoka to take on the SoftBank Hawks. Lotte had controlled much of the series, but Tsuyoshi Shinjo’s squad lived up to their name and fought back to advance.

Yuri Karasawa