Tigers Claim Opening Victory in 2025 Japan Series
The Hanshin Tigers have taken an early lead in the 2025 Japan Series, defeating the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks 2-1 in a tightly contested Game 1 on Saturday, October 25, at Mizuho PayPay Dome Fukuoka. The victory marks a crucial start for the Central League champions against their Pacific League counterparts in the best-of-seven championship series.
Pitching Dominates Early Stages
The opening game was characterized by a compelling pitching duel between Hanshin's Shoki Murakami and SoftBank's Kohei Arihara. Murakami, who jointly led the Central League with 14 wins this season, delivered a strong performance, pitching seven innings and allowing just one run. The Hawks initially drew first blood in the bottom of the first inning when veteran cleanup hitter Kensuke Kondoh, returning after missing the Climax Series, hit an RBI single off Murakami, giving Fukuoka a 1-0 lead. Arihara, a former Texas Ranger and also a 14-game winner in the Pacific League, kept the Tigers scoreless through the first five innings, showcasing his command on the mound.
Sixth-Inning Rally Secures Tigers' Lead
The momentum shifted in the top of the sixth inning as the Hanshin Tigers mounted a decisive rally. Leadoff hitter Koji Chikamoto ignited the offense with a single, followed by a hit from Takumu Nakano. Shota Morishita's groundout then scored the speedy Chikamoto, tying the game at 1-1. The go-ahead run came moments later when cleanup hitter Teruaki Sato, who led NPB with 40 home runs and 102 RBIs during the regular season, connected for an RBI double to right-center field, bringing Nakano home and giving the Tigers a 2-1 advantage.
Bullpen Holds Strong for the Win
Following Murakami's impressive outing, the Hanshin bullpen effectively shut down the Hawks' offense. In the ninth inning, closer Daichi Ishii, who set a Nippon Professional Baseball record with 50 consecutive scoreless innings this season, entered the game. Despite the Hawks having two runners on base after a Yuki Yanagita single and a catcher's interference call, Ishii successfully navigated the jam to secure the save, marking his first in a Japan Series. This victory was Hanshin's first in Fukuoka in a Japan Series game in eight attempts, breaking a long-standing 'curse of Hakata' for the Tigers.
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