Hawks clinch Japan Series 4-1 with 11-inning Game 5 defeat of Tigers
October 30, 2025 (Mainichi Japan)
SoftBank Hawks were crowned champions of Nippon Professional Baseball on 30 Oct, 2025. (Mainichi)
SoftBank Hawks were crowned champions of Nippon Professional Baseball on 30 Oct, 2025. (Mainichi)
NISHINOMIYA, Japan (Kyodo) -- The SoftBank Hawks were crowned champions of Nippon Professional Baseball on Thursday after Isami Nomura's 11th-inning go-ahead home run gave them a Japan Series-clinching 3-2 win over the Hanshin Tigers in Game 5 at Koshien Stadium.
The Pacific League champion Hawks bounced back from a Game 1 loss on home soil at Mizuho PayPay Dome to claim the next four straight against the Central League-winning Tigers and secure the Fukuoka club's first Japan Series title since 2020.
Facing elimination down 3-1 in the best-of-seven series, the Tigers were poised to stay alive with a 2-0 lead on RBIs from Seishiro Sakamoto and Teruaki Sato before SoftBank veteran Yuki Yanagita sent it to extra innings with a two-run blast in the eighth.
With their season on the line, the Tigers brought ace right-hander Shoki Murakami out of the bullpen for the 10th inning. Following a scoreless 10th, right-handed hitter Nomura led off the 11th with a big fly to the opposite field off Murakami's 2-2 fastball.
Lefty Kotaro Otake threw six shutout innings of three-hit ball for the Tigers, while SoftBank starter Kohei Arihara left the game after 4-2/3 innings in which he allowed six hits, three walks and was charged with both Hanshin runs.
October 30, 2025 (Mainichi Japan)
SoftBank Hawks were crowned champions of Nippon Professional Baseball on 30 Oct, 2025. (Mainichi)
SoftBank Hawks were crowned champions of Nippon Professional Baseball on 30 Oct, 2025. (Mainichi)
NISHINOMIYA, Japan (Kyodo) -- The SoftBank Hawks were crowned champions of Nippon Professional Baseball on Thursday after Isami Nomura's 11th-inning go-ahead home run gave them a Japan Series-clinching 3-2 win over the Hanshin Tigers in Game 5 at Koshien Stadium.
The Pacific League champion Hawks bounced back from a Game 1 loss on home soil at Mizuho PayPay Dome to claim the next four straight against the Central League-winning Tigers and secure the Fukuoka club's first Japan Series title since 2020.
Facing elimination down 3-1 in the best-of-seven series, the Tigers were poised to stay alive with a 2-0 lead on RBIs from Seishiro Sakamoto and Teruaki Sato before SoftBank veteran Yuki Yanagita sent it to extra innings with a two-run blast in the eighth.
With their season on the line, the Tigers brought ace right-hander Shoki Murakami out of the bullpen for the 10th inning. Following a scoreless 10th, right-handed hitter Nomura led off the 11th with a big fly to the opposite field off Murakami's 2-2 fastball.
Lefty Kotaro Otake threw six shutout innings of three-hit ball for the Tigers, while SoftBank starter Kohei Arihara left the game after 4-2/3 innings in which he allowed six hits, three walks and was charged with both Hanshin runs.
Similar Readings (5 items)
Summary: Los Angeles Dodgers win World Series for second straight year
Summary: Los Angeles Dodgers win World Series for second straight year
Dodgers Win World Series Over Blue Jays in 11 Innings in Dramatic Game 7
Ohtani Shohei homers to propel Japan to WBC quarterfinals as Pool B winner
Los Angeles Dodgers win World Series for second straight year
Summary
SoftBank Hawks won the Japan Series on October 30, 2025, defeating the Hanshin Tigers in Game 5 of the best-of-seven series. The decisive game was a close match, with the Tigers leading 2-0 until Isami Nomura hit a go-ahead home run in the 11th inning. The Hawks bounced back from an initial loss