Back-to-back 8-0 blowouts in Games 1 and 2 gave the Hanshin Tigers and the Orix Buffaloes, respectively, metaphorical knockout punches early on in the 2023 Japan Series.
One-sided wins lack some of the drama (and often the emotion) of nail-biting victories. And there was plenty of drama on display in Games 4 and 5 on October 31 and November 1 at Koshien Stadium in Nishinomiya, Hyogo Prefecture.
But first the Buffaloes responded after their lopsided Game 2 triumph with a 5-4 triumph on Halloween night. It gave Orix, making its third consecutive Japan Series appearance, a 2-1 advantage in the best-of-seven series. Orix took a 5-1 lead on a Kenya Wakatsuki sacrifice fly in the sixth inning, but Hanshin rallied for three runs in the seventh.
The tension was palpable, even for those watching the action on TV.
Like a seesaw, momentum shifted back and forth, often quite quickly in this series.
Yuma Mune, who connected off a Masashi Ito offering for a two-run double in the fifth inning, and Yuma Tongu, who slugged a solo home run in the fourth, were among the Buffaloes' key performers in Game 3, combining for three RBIs.
After the game, Mune provided insights on the adrenaline-driven intensity of the championship series, sharing thoughts on his key at-bat in the fifth.
"As the count deepened, I began to think I could get a hit there," Mune was quoted as saying by Kyodo News. "The enthusiastic cheering for the home team is amazing here. I'm glad we won this close game.
"Everyone on our team is concentrating. I just want to contribute in any way."
Japan Series: a Clash of Dueling Storylines
You could only watch one random inning of this riveting series ― the first all-Kansai Japan Series since 1964 ― and realize that neither team was just going through the motions.
The Buffaloes were fired up about the possibility of winning their second straight title.
And the Tigers were vying for their first Japan Series crown since 1985, doing so with a former star player from that year's team, Akinobu Okada, running the show as the manager.
Game 4 delivered a hint that this series would likely reach its dramatic zenith in the final game.
How so?
Hanshin evened the series at 2-2 on a walk-off hit, aka a sayonara single, by Yusuke Ohyama off American reliever Jacob Waguespack with the bases loaded and one out in the ninth. A large percentage of the 41,000-plus crowd reacted with unconstrained joy.
Ohyama summarized a worker's dedication to his craft in the electric euphoria that followed the game-ending play.
"I'm glad we won this game. It's a complete team effort," Ohyama said, according to Kyodo News. "I step to the plate in pressure situations like [this] every day, [and] I told myself to stay calm and do my job."
So after consecutive blowouts (one by each team) and two wins by the slimmest of margins (one for each club), the 2023 Japan Series was still up for grabs.
Momentum Shifts to the Tigers
What happened in Game 5?
The Buffaloes led 2-0 entering the bottom of the eighth. Orix starter Daiki Tajima had thrown seven innings of scoreless ball, allowing just four hits. But manager Satoshi Nakajima opted to go to the bullpen.
For the Buffaloes, the move backfired.
The Tigers erupted for six runs in the eighth off three Orix relievers, including rookie Shota Morishita's go-ahead, two-run triple off Yuki Udagawa. Hanshin won 6-2, clearly seizing momentum by taking a 3-2 series lead.
But how long would that momentum last?
Yamamoto Steps Up with a Win and a Japan Series Record
Clearly, for Game 6 the pressure was on the Buffaloes, who needed a victory to extend the series to a seventh game.
That's exactly what happened. Three-time Sawamura Award winner Yoshinobu Yamamoto, the ace of the Orix pitching staff and NPB's best pitcher over the past few seasons, bounced back in a big way after a disastrous outing in Game 1, when he allowed 10 hits and seven runs in 5⅔ innings. Yamamoto recorded a Japan Series record 14 strikeouts in a complete-game effort, scattering nine hits in Orix's 5-1 victory on Saturday, November 4.
In a performance that will be remembered for decades to come, Yamamoto reminded everyone of his exceptional pitching skills. He showcased the ability to get a strikeout whenever one was needed in a gusty 138-pitch effort.
Now he's on the verge of signing with a Major League Baseball team via the posting system.
Nakajima insisted after Game 6 that he had no Plan B on Saturday ― relying on Yamamoto was the only option.
"Regardless of the pitch count, I was betting this entire game on Yoshinobu," Nakajima told reporters, according to Kyodo News.
Tigers Seize Control in Game 7
In essence, Game 7 boiled down to two big innings ― the fourth and fifth for Hanshin. The Tigers scored three runs apiece in both innings to take a commanding 6-0 lead on Sunday, November 5.
Of all the hits (Hanshin had 12 in the game), the biggest was American Sheldon Neuse's three-run blast in the fourth off Orix starter Hiroya Miyagi, the Game 2 winner.
Hanshin fans were counting down the moments until the final out in the ninth at Osaka's Kyocera Dome, watching with anticipation as their hearts beat fast. Thousands more attended a live public viewing at Koshien Stadium, wearing Tigers jerseys and hats and carrying banners, flags, and other paraphernalia to show support for their beloved team.
The Tigers tacked on another run in the top of the ninth, extending their advantage to 7-0.
For the Buffaloes, a miracle finish, an epic reversal of fortune, would be required, to force extra innings or win in improbable fashion with an eight-run rally.
Neither happened.
Orix scored once in the ninth to end Hanshin's shutout bid.
The Tigers clinched the Japan Series title when Yutaro Sugimoto hit a fly ball to Neuse in left for the final out.
As a result, here's what showed on the scoreboard: Hansin 7, Orix 1.
Sloppy Defense and Chikamoto's Dynamic Play
A few other things were recurring themes throughout the seven-game series.
And this one was a bit surprising: Shoddy fielding affected both teams with a combined 16 errors.
Hanshin leadoff hitter Koji Chikamoto elevated his status as one of NPB's premier offensive catalysts with 14 hits in 29 at-bats (a .483 batting average). He had four hits in Game 7 and was named Japan Series MVP.
After Hanshin captured the title, Chikamoto, a fifth-year pro, said the Tigers' success against the Buffaloes was the result of effort.
"We came out to play hard each and every game, and the result was that we played good games," Chikamoto was quoted as saying by Kyodo News.
RELATED:
- Sheldon Neuse Leads Hanshin Tigers to First Japan Series Title in 38 Years
- Hanshin Tigers Are on the Verge of Their First Japan Series Title in 38 Years
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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