Overview
- SoftBank beat Hanshin 3-2 in Game 4, building a 3-0 lead before the Tigers scored twice in the eighth and stranded a runner.
- Hotaka Yamakawa homered for the third straight game, becoming the sixth player to achieve the feat in Japan Series history.
- Starter Ryosuke Otsu threw five scoreless innings, and closer Kazuki Sugiyama ended it with a perfect ninth.
- Tatsuru Yanagimachi contributed a bases-loaded sacrifice fly and pinch-hitter Kensuke Kondo added an RBI single to extend the cushion.
- The Hawks also took Game 3 on Yanagimachi’s RBI triple, with Livan Moinelo earning the win over Hiroto Saiki.