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The Saitama Seibu Lions season ended on Sunday against the Fukuoka Softbank Hawks in the Final Stage of the Climax Series. Here is how it happened:
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As the Lions were already awarded a one game advantage, the Hawks took it away when Yusei Kikuchi struggled in the first game played against Rick van Den Hurk. He couldn't get a 1-2-3 inning until the third and his location was off, which allowed several base runners through hits or walks./ It was in the fourth inning where the Hawks broke it open through timely hits let and right.
On the other end, the Lions had hits of Van Den Hurk, but couldn't bring them home outside of two hits in the third.
Hawks 10, Lions 4
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Game two had Shinsaburo Tawata facing Ariel Miranda. Takumi Kuriyama's three run home run gave the Lions a 3-0 lead, but the Hawks responded with three of their own. Neither side could get a shutdown frame with runs being exchanged, but Hideto Asamura's three-run HR proved to be the difference. Tawata gave up five runs through six innings, but recovered after the third while Miranda couldn't make it that far.
The Lions were able to feast on the Hawks bullpen and Kuriyama tied a Climax Series record with six RBIs. Sosuke Genda also had a modasho and kept rallies alive for the night.
Lions 13, Hawks 5
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Game three had Daiki Enokida facing Kodai Senga. Seiji Uebayashi hit a three-run HR in the second inning and the Lions never recovered. While they were trailing 4-0, the Lions killed a rally of their own when sending a runner to home plate on what looked like a timely from Genda.
Ken Togame came in middle relief and was lit up, making this game an easy laugher for the Hawks as every starting player for the opposition had at least one hit.
Hawks 15, Lions 4
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Game four had Tatsuya Imai against Nao Higashihama. Imai gave up two early home runs to Yuki Yanagita and Takuya Kai for a 4-0 lead the Lions never recovered from. Higashihama limited the Lions to a two-run HR in the third and that was it.
To add insult t the game, Alfredo Despaigne hit Tomoya Mori by swinging around on the wrist which hurt the team's confidence. Tatsushi Masuda and Kyle Martin struggled in the 7th inning which secured another win for the Hawks.
Hawks 8, Lions 2
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Game 5 had Brian Wolfe facing Rei Takahashi. Yanagita hit an early bases-clearing double in the first to put the Lions in a hole they never recovered from once again. It was a one run game after five innings, but the Lions left Wolfe in the game too long for the 6th and it backfired when he gave up another run.
Kyle Martin struggled in the 8th inning once again and gave up two runs, putting a three-run lead as insurmountable. Takeya "Okawari-kun" Nakamura hit a HR in the 9th, but it was too late as the Lions season ended with a 4-2 series loss./
Hawks 6, Lions 5
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Transactions:
The Lions have had several moves since the loss, which included General Manager Haruhiko Suzuki stepping down at the end of the 2018 calendar year. Senior Director Hisanobu "Nabe-Q" Watanabe will take over when 2019 begins as the Heisei era also ends.
Deunte Heath and Kyle Martin were already given contracts for 2019, which I think is fair. Heath was an obvious decision given how he established himself as the team's closer in the second half. Martin is a small surprise given he wasn't awful, but not dominant in his short time with the ichi-gun. Thankfully, the Lions didn't judge him based off his postseason. If anything, he'll get a full year experience.
For now, it's also unclear whether Brian Wolfe retires from the game or not. There hasn't been any Lions decisions one way or another on him, but he could be useful as a spot starter.
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Lots of frustration regarding this team in the Climax Series, but we knew the bullpen and rotation had its flaws coming in. Unfortunately, Yusei Kikuchi's career in Japan ends on a sour note, but we wish him the best when he is posted and goes to MLB.
Only question now is what happens to Hideto Asamura? The whole league is on watch now that he's a domestic free agent.
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