Latest news with #SoftBankHawks
The Mainichi
10-07-2025
- Sport
- The Mainichi
Baseball: Kurebayashi grand slam lifts Buffaloes past Hawks
OSAKA (Kyodo) -- Kotaro Kurebayashi hit a grand slam as the Orix Buffaloes beat the SoftBank Hawks 4-0 on Thursday to avoid a three-game sweep in the Pacific League. Kurebayashi blasted a low 0-1 slider from Hawks starter Haru Matsumoto (3-3) high into the left stand at Kyocera Dome Osaka with one out in the sixth inning, going deep for the fifth time this year. Kohei Azuma blanked the Hawks over five innings on two hits, and relievers Taisuke Yamaoka (3-1), Sho Iwasaki and Luis Perdomo each threw a perfect inning for the Buffaloes. In other action, the Central League-leading Hanshin Tigers won their 11th straight game and eighth in a row against the Hiroshima Carp after coming from behind to prevail 6-3.
The Mainichi
02-07-2025
- Sport
- The Mainichi
Baseball: Hawks' Kohei Arihara blanks old team Fighters in close win
TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Kohei Arihara hurled a six-hit shutout striking out 11 as the SoftBank Hawks held off the Pacific League-leading Nippon Ham Fighters 1-0 on Tuesday. Former Fighter and Texas Ranger Arihara (5-5) had a runner on third in the second, fifth and eighth innings at Tokyo Dome, but kept his old team at bay for his first shutout win of the year allowing just one walk. The right-hander, who decided to join the Hawks in 2023 instead of returning to the Fighters after two seasons with the Rangers, has now won against all 12 current Nippon Professional Baseball teams. Fighters starter Koki Kitayama (5-3), who had a no-hitter bid ended in the ninth in his last outing on June 19, also allowed six hits, fanned five and walked two over eight innings. He allowed his only run in the sixth on Akira Nakamura's sacrifice fly. In other action, the DeNA BayStars snapped their four-game losing skid by beating the Chunichi Dragons 3-2 in the Central League.
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Kodai Senga, Roki Sasaki reunite before Mets-Dodgers showdown
The post Kodai Senga, Roki Sasaki reunite before Mets-Dodgers showdown appeared first on ClutchPoints. Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Rōki Sasaki and New York Mets All-Star Kodai Senga finally met again on the mound. The meetup came ahead of the much-anticipated National League Championship Series rematch at Dodger Stadium. The Mets had edged the Dodgers 4–3 in extra innings during their previous encounter, adding even more intrigue to this matchup. The two Japanese stars were seen having a delightful conversation, and Senga appeared to give some tips to Sasaki. Their last meeting came during the 2022 Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) season. Senga suited up for the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks, while Sasaki took the mound for the Chiba Lotte Marines. The Marines cruised to an 8–1 victory, with Sasaki earning the win and Senga taking the loss. Later that year, Senga exercised his international free agent rights and made the jump to MLB. Advertisement In December 2022, Senga signed a five-year, $75 million contract with the Mets. His SoftBank career was loaded with accolades. He won the Japanese Triple Crown in 2020, captured five Japan Series titles, and earned three NPB All-Star nods. He also led the Pacific League in strikeouts twice and received two Best Nine awards. Senga made his MLB debut on April 2, 2023, in a 5–1 win over the Miami Marlins. He later earned a spot in the 2023 MLB All-Star Game. Sasaki, in contrast, had a shorter but electrifying career in Japan. Before his Dodgers career, he made global headlines with a perfect game on April 10, 2022. In that match against the Orix Buffaloes, Sasaki struck out 19 batters to tie the NPB single-game record. He also fanned 13 consecutive hitters, setting a new world record. Sasaki needed just 105 pitches to complete the game. It remains the 16th perfect game recorded in NPB history. The Dodgers signed Sasaki on January 22, 2025. Baseball America named him the No. 1 prospect ahead of the season. He made the Opening Day roster and debuted against the Chicago Cubs in Tokyo. Sasaki recorded his first MLB strikeout against fellow Japanese star Seiya Suzuki. In May, the Dodgers placed him on the 15-day injured list due to a right shoulder impingement. Related: MLB rumors: Sandy Alcantara's 8.47 ERA shouldn't stop Cubs from making trade Related: MLB rumors: Yankees, Phillies named best trade fits for Rays stars
The Mainichi
06-05-2025
- Sport
- The Mainichi
Baseball: Resurgent Hawks win 5th straight with rout of Lions
TOKOROZAWA, Japan (Kyodo) -- Tatsuru Yanagimachi went 3-for-5 with five RBIs to back a dominant pitching performance by Livan Moinelo as the SoftBank Hawks beat the Seibu Lions 10-0 for their fifth straight victory Tuesday. Yanagimachi singled in the opening run in a four-run first inning. The 28-year-old outfielder also drove in two runs each in the fourth and fifth at Belluna Dome. Moinelo (3-0) allowed only one baserunner, a fourth-inning infield single by Natsuo Takizawa, over seven innings. The Cuban left-hander struck out six in an 84-pitch effort. Isami Nomura, filling SoftBank's leadoff spot in place of an injured Ukyo Shuto, had four hits and scored three times. Taiga Ueda (0-1) gave up 10 runs on 12 hits in five innings. The Seibu offense was limited to two hits. In other action, Kotaro Kiyomiya and Chusei Mannami homered and drove in five runs between them as the Nippon Ham Fighters beat the Pacific League-leading Orix Buffaloes 7-3. In the Central League, the DeNA BayStars blanked the Chunichi Dragons 3-0.
The Mainichi
26-04-2025
- Sport
- The Mainichi
Baseball: Arihara throws 8 shutout innings as Hawks edge Eagles
SENDAI (Kyodo) -- Kohei Arihara hurled eight shutout innings as the SoftBank Hawks won 1-0 to end the Rakuten Eagles' four-game winning run in the Pacific League on Friday. After a forgettable start to the season, former Texas Ranger Arihara (1-3) earned his first win holding the Eagles to five hits and a walk while striking out one at Rakuten Mobile Park Miyagi. The right-hander opened the game with three 1-2-3 innings before putting a runner in scoring position in the fourth, seventh and eighth, but worked around the jam each time to keep the Eagles off the board. Takahisa Hayakawa fanned 11 as the Eagles starter tossed seven innings of five-hit ball but got no run support. Takahiro Norimoto gave up the crucial run in the ninth on a sacrifice fly from Hawks pinch hitter Hiroki Minei. In the Central League, the Hanshin Tigers beat the Yomiuri Giants 4-1 to win their fifth straight.
