DeNA BayStars no match for Softbank Hawks in game 1 of Nippon Series

Today the Nippon Series started in the Yahoo Dome in Fukuoka, home of the Softbank Hawks. Trailing 3-0, the DeNA BayStars scored a run in the fifth inning, but the Softbank Hawks countered with seven runs in the bottom of that inning to deal the team from Yokohama a decisive blow as the Hawks won 10-1.

Until that fifth inning, the game was still close, but after the Hawks scored those seven runs in the bottom of the fifth frame, the game fizzled out. The Softbank hitters didn’t push anymore after the fifth inning as the BayStars pitching retired the side in each of the sixth, seventh and eighth inning.

Hawks starting pitcher Kodai Senga, threw 103 pitches in seven innings to strike out three, walk two and give up an unearned run and to earn the win.

The offense of the Softbank Hawks took advantage of the lack of control of BayStars starting pitcher Shoichi Ino and reliever Kenjiro Tanaka in the fifth inning. Combined, they gave up four walks of which two led to runs “batted” in. Combined with some timely hitting by the Hawks, the lack of control led to seven runs in total.

The Hawks’ Dutch starter, Rick van den Hurk, will likely start in game four or game five of the series.