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SoftBank Hawks Extend Japan Series Dominance with 14th Consecutive Win, Eyeing 12th Championship

The SoftBank Hawks, one of the most prestigious teams in Nippon Professional Baseball, are continuing their postseason dominance in 2024 with an impressive run in the Japan Series. Following four consecutive Japan Series championships from 2017 to 2020, the Hawks are once again making waves in this year’s playoffs.

Their current form is nothing short of unstoppable.

With two straight victories in this year’s Japan Series, SoftBank has now won 14 consecutive games in the championship series. Their latest win came on October 27th, when they defeated the Yokohama DeNA BayStars 6-3 in Game 2 at Yokohama Stadium.

Following their 5-3 victory in Game 1, the Hawks are riding a wave of momentum, and they will look to extend their Japan Series winning streak to 15 games on October 29th as they continue their quest for yet another title.

SoftBank's remarkable streak began back in Game 3 of the 2018 Japan Series. After falling behind with one loss and a tie against the Hiroshima Carp, the Hawks went on a tear, winning four straight games to clinch the championship.

In 2019 and 2020, SoftBank dealt two back-to-back humiliating sweeps to the Yomiuri Giants, winning the Japan Series in four games each year and securing their third consecutive title.

Fast forward to 2024, and after two victories over Yokohama, the Hawks have extended their Japan Series winning streak to 14 games and look poised to continue their dominance.

In Game 1 of the series, starting pitcher Kohei Arihara was outstanding, throwing seven innings of shutout baseball, allowing only four hits, striking out four, and walking two. His stellar performance led SoftBank to a 5-3 win, and he even contributed offensively with the game-winning hit in the second inning.

Game 2 saw standout performances from Yamakawa, who went 3-for-4 with a home run, three RBIs, and two runs scored. Yamakawa set the tone early with a two-run homer in the first inning, giving SoftBank an early lead.

In the third inning, Makihara added a two-RBI single, followed by a sacrifice fly from Takuya, extending the lead to 5-0. The game ended with a 6-3 victory, as starting pitcher Moinelo delivered a solid outing, going 6.2 innings, allowing eight hits and three runs, while striking out six and walking two to secure a quality start.

Yokohama DeNA BayStars, who finished third in the Central League, advanced to the Japan Series after defeating second-place Hanshin in the First Stage and top-seeded Yomiuri Giants, led by Shinnosuke Abe, in the Final Stage. This marks Yokohama’s first Japan Series appearance in seven years, having last qualified in 2017. The BayStars are aiming for their third franchise championship, with their last title coming in 1998.

However, Yokohama now finds themselves reeling after two losses to SoftBank’s powerful lineup and dominant pitching.

Games 3 through 5 of the series will shift to SoftBank’s home field, Mizuho PayPay Dome, starting on October 29th. The Hawks will be aiming for their first championship since 2020 and their 12th Japan Series title in franchise history.

With the SoftBank Hawks showing no signs of slowing down, they are once again asserting their dominance in Nippon Professional Baseball, positioning themselves as strong contenders to add another trophy to their illustrious legacy.