The Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks pounded the Hanshin Tigers in Game 2 of the Japan Series on Sunday, October 26, particularly in the early innings. Seven Hawks players had at least one hit in SoftBank's 10-1 rout at Mizuho PayPay Dome Fukuoka.
Hawks leadoff hitter Yuki Yanagita went 3-for-5. Ukyo Shuto, the No 2 man in the lineup, had a 5-for-5 night at the plate, setting a Japan Series record for the most hits in a game.
In addition, SoftBank veteran slugger Hotaka Yamakawa smacked a three-run home run to left-center with two outs in the second inning off Tigers reliever Yuta Iwasada. Yamakawa finished with a pair of hits and five RBIs.
Hanshin grabbed a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning, but it vanished quickly.
SoftBank answered with three runs in the home half of the first. Ryoya Kurihara had the game-tying hit and Yamakawa followed with a two-run double.
In the second, the Hawks sent 10 batters to the plate and scored six runs.
Tigers starter Jon Duplantier, a former MLB pitcher for the Arizona Diamondbacks, only lasted 1⅔ innings. He gave up six hits and seven runs, walked three batters and was charged with the loss.
Hawks starter Naoyuki Uwasawa, a 12-game winner during the regular season, pitched six innings of one-run ball to earn the win. He allowed five hits, struck out seven and walked one.
"It was his first Japan Series start, and he threw with everything he had from the very first inning," Hawks manager Hiroki Kokubo said of Uwasawa, according to Chunichi Sports. "He gave it his all and set the tone for the game."
In Saturday's Game 1, Hanshin defeated SoftBank 2-1.
Japan Series Info
Up next: Game 3, 4 and 5 of the best-of-seven series are scheduled for Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, October 28-30. The Tigers' Koshien Stadium is the venue.
The Last Word
"Last year, we lost three straight games here in the Japan Series and couldn't show you all a win. So today, I'm happy."
―Kokubo, on SoftBank snapping its Japan Series losing streak at PayPay Dome in Game 2, Chunichi Sports reported.
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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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