Kohei Arihara delivered a dominant performance on the mound for the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks in Game 1 of the 2024 Japan Series on Saturday night, October 26.
Arihara pitched seven scoreless innings, holding the Yokohama DeNA BayStars to four hits.
The 32-year-old Hiroshima native also had the first big hit of the game in the Hawks' 5-3 triumph at Yokohama Stadium.
With two outs in the second inning, Arihara hit a bases-loaded, two-run single down the right-field line. Tomoya Masaki and Taisei Makihara, both of whom had singled moments earlier, scored. It was the first hit by a pitcher in a Japan Series game since Game 5 in 1986, when Kimiyasu Kudo of the Seibu Lions had a hit. (Kudo later managed the Hawks to five Japan Series titles.)
"I was just trying to put the bat on the ball," Arihara was quoted as saying by Kyodo News. "It was a thrill when it got through the infield because one doesn't expect to get a chance to do this in a game of this importance."
Neither team scored again until the Hawks tacked on three more runs in the top of the ninth to make it 5-0. Kenta Imamiya hit a two-run double to right and teammate Ryoya Kurihara added an RBI single to left with two outs.
BayStars Stage a Spirited Rally in the 9th
The BayStars then spoiled the Hawks' shutout bid with three runs in the bottom of the ninth as SoftBank closer Roberto Osuna, who had 24 saves in the regular season, endured a rocky outing.
Including Tyler Austin's leadoff double, DeNA had four hits in the ninth as the home team staged a spirited rally. The BayStars also had consecutive run-scoring hits by Koki Kajiwara and Keito Mori against Osuna, who also had a throwing error in the ninth that allowed a run to score.
With two outs and runners at the corners, Yokohama had the potential tying run on third base. But BayStars captain Shugo Maki, who went 0-for-5, hit a flyball to center to end the game.
"I think our offense will lead to a better result tomorrow than if we had finished the game without any resistance," Miura told reporters after Game 1, according to Daily Sports. "We have to carry this over to tomorrow."
Hawks Extend their Japan Series Winning Streak
Dating back to 2018, the Hawks have won 13 consecutive Japan Series games. Saturday's game, however, was their first in the NPB championship series since 2020.
SoftBank manager Hiroki Kokubo, who's in his second season at the helm, said he isn't focused on preserving winning streaks. Instead the team's mission is clear, he insisted.
"The Japan Series is a series where you can lose three games," Kokubo said, according to Daily Sports. "We will take it one game at a time without worrying about that."
In additional remarks that highlighted his postgame reaction, Kokubo put it this way: "It takes three more [victories] to win this. The other 12 wins don't matter to me," Kyodo News reported.
Arihara Gives SoftBank a Big Boost
Arihara struck out four and issued two walks in his 104-pitch outing.
He spoke about the significance of being named the Game 1 started after his team sealed the win.
"I was handed an important assignment, and I was able to pitch to the best of my ability," Arihara said, according to Kyodo News. He also credited catcher Takuya Kai for "calling such a great game."
As the ace of the SoftBank pitching staff this season, Arihara had a 14-7 record, tying Hiromi Itoh of the Hokkaido Nipponham Fighters for the Pacific League lead in wins.
Arihara joined the Hawks in 2023 after spending the two previous seasons with MLB's Texas Rangers and two of the American League club's minor-league affiliates. He began his pro career with the Fighters in 2015.
Before his overseas stay, Arihara went 15-8 for the Fighters in 2019, establishing a career-high win total.
After Arihara's departure from the Japan Series opener, Venezuela reliever Darwinzon Hernandez entered the game in the eighth. He pitched one scoreless inning before Kokubo turned to Osuna.
BayStars starter Andre Jackson, a former MLB pitcher, labored through 4⅔ innings on the mound. He departed after 97 pitches, walking five batters and striking out nine. Jackson, the losing pitcher, struck out the side in the third.
Miura used five relief pitchers for the rest of Game 1.
Both teams finished with nine hits in the Japan Series opener.
A Look Ahead
Game 2 is on Sunday, October 26 at the same ballpark. First pitch is scheduled for 6 PM.
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Author: Ed Odeven
Find Ed on JAPAN Forward's dedicated website, SportsLook. Follow his [Japan Sports Notebook] on Sundays, [Odds and Evens] during the week, and X (formerly Twitter) ＠ed_odeven.
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