Japan Series: Tigers Rally Past Hawks in Game 1

For the Hanshin Tigers, stellar pitching and one big hit were the recipe for victory in Game 1 of the 2025 Japan Series.

Shoki Murakami pitched seven strong innings against the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks, allowing just one run. Hanshin grabbed the lead in the sixth inning and the team's bullpen threw three scoreless innings on Saturday night at Mizuho PayPay Dome Fukuoka.

The Tigers defeated the Hawks 2-1.

Game 2 is on Sunday night at the same venue.

In the first inning of the Japan Series opener, Hawks veteran Kensuke Kondoh's two-out RBI single put the hosts in front 1-0.

A pitchers' duel between Murakami and Hawks counterpart Kohei Arihara grabbed fans' attention.

Arihara sent the side down in order in the second and fourth innings. The former MLB right-hander only faced four batters in the first, third and fifth frames.

Japan Series Game 1 Rally

For Hanshin, leadoff hitter Koji Chikamoto singled to start the sixth inning, and Takumu Nakano followed with a hit to ignite a rally. Shota Morishita's groundout scored the speedy Chikamoto to tie it at 1-1.

The next batter, cleanup hitter Teruaki Sato, who led NPB with 40 home runs and 102 RBIs during the regular season, whacked a double to right-center, scoring Nakano and giving the Tigers a 2-1 lead.

Arihara got out of the jam, retiring the next two batters without giving up any more runs. And then he left the game. His final pitching line: six innings, six hits, two runs, zero walks and five strikeouts.

Hawks reliever Koya Fujii took over pitching duties in the seventh. Fujii, Yuki Matsumoto and Kazuki Sugiyama each threw one scoreless inning and didn't allow any more hits the rest of the game.

Murakami departed game after 115 pitches and seven innings. He scattered six hits, walked two and fanned six.

On Saturday night, Tigers manager Kyuji Fujikawa commended Murakami for his resilience and effective pitching against the talented Hawks.

"Arihara pitched that way, too," Fujikawa said, praising both starting pitchers, according to Sankei Sports. "It wasn't easy, and we gave up a run early on Kondoh's great hit. [Murakami] pitched similarly during the season. He builds momentum as the game goes on, waiting for the right moment to attack. It was exactly like his pitching [this] season ― it was fantastic."

Hanshin Bullpen Secures the Win

After Murakami's departure, Tigers setup man Masaki Oyokawa, who had 46 holds during the 2025 NPB season, worked two-thirds of an inning.

Fujikawa then brought in Daichi Ishii to close out the game.

In a record-breaking season, Ishii allowed just one run in 53 appearances. And he was ready for the challenge on this night in the Japan Series opener.

Seldom-used Tigers outfielder Kairi Shimada made a stellar catch in left to end the eighth. He also had a leadoff single and a stolen base earlier in the game. Noting his impact on offense and defense, Fujikawa later said, "I think he did a good job," Daily Sports reported.

With two outs in the bottom of the ninth, Yuki Yanagita, a member of six Japan Series-winning squads during his long career with the Hawks, singled to center on a 2-2 offering from Ishii.

Ukyo Shuto then reached on catcher's interference, putting runners at first and second and keeping alive the Hawks' comeback hopes.

But on a 1-1 pitch, Tatsuru Yanagimachi hit a fly ball to center for the final out of the game.

Ishii earned the save, and Tigers players exchanged high-fives and smiles after the Japan Series-opening win.

Reflections on Game 1

"It was an exciting game," Fujikawa said after the game, according to Jiji Press. "The fact that we scored runs [while Morishita and Sato were batting] will be hugely significant for the Tigers going forward."

Hawks manager Hiroki Kokubo said the Tigers did what they had to do to emerge victorious in Game 1.

"They capitalized on their one chance," Kokubo said, referring to the sixth inning, according to Jiji Press. "That's how Hanshin has fought this year, using their legs to get on base. They showed great tenacity in the end."

Author: Ed Odeven

Follow Ed's [Japan Sports Notebook] on Sundays, [Odds and Evens] during the week, and he can be found on X (formerly Twitter) ＠ed_odeven.