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The Saitama Seibu Lions season officially came to an end on October 12, losing two out of three to the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters. It became the 6th consecutive time they lost a postseason series dating back to 2012.
They retain the longest drought in NPB of winning a Climax Series with their last being in 2011.
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Game 1: Kohei Arihara vs. Kaima Taira
Both starters could only go five innings with home runs given up by each side. Taiga Hirasawa hit a solo HR in the first inning, but Taiki Narama answered with a two-run HR in the fourth.
It was tied in the 5th when small ball helped the Lions manufacturer a run. While batting 9th, Manaya Nishikawa's two-hit day included a timely to keep it deadlocked.
Yuta Kuroki, Hibiki Shinohara, Ryosuke Moriwaki and Hiroshi Kaino pitched scoreless frames while the Fighters bullpen responded with the same result. The bottom of the 8th had a chance for the Lions with runners on the corners with Seiya Watanabe up, but he grounded into a double play.
Taishi Mameda kept the game tied 2-2 with a clean top of the 10th inning. Haruki Hosono came out for the bottom of the 10th, an interesting call by manager Tsuyoshi Shinjo. As the 2nd batter of the frame, Alexander Canario took the first pitch into the left field stands for a walkoff home run, their first since 2004. It was the first Lions Climax Series win since 2018, breaking a nine game losing streak.
Lions 3, Fighters 2 (10 innings)
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Game 2: Kota Tatsu vs. Kona Takahashi
Both sides were scoreless after four, but Takahashi showed vulnerability after being worn down. With two outs in the top of the 5th, Yuki Nomura took a double to left-center field for a timely hit.
The Fighters defense played a role in run saving as the Lions threatened in the 5th and 6th. Narama caught a liner from Natsuo Takizawa and Kotaro Kiyomiya dived for another by Kazunari Ishii to keep the Lions off the board.
Ren Fukushima worked out of his own jam in the 7th by striking out Canario with two runners on. The Fighters shutout the Lions to force a Game 3.
Fighters 1, Lions 0
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Game 3: Hiromi Itoh vs Natsuki Takeuchi
Nomura again drew first blood with a timely hit in the 2nd inning. Chusei Mannami hit a solo HR in the 4th to double the lead.
For the Lions, it was a game of double plays and no offense could come for the entire series, summing up their September and carrying it over into the postseason.
Takeuchi only went five innings to give up three runs. Shinohara gave up a 4th run which created an insurmountable lead. Sosuke Genda had a sacrifice fly for the lone run by the Lions, but every chance otherwise was squandered.
Fighters 4, Lions 1
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Did it hurt that Chihiro Sumida and Trey Wingenter weren't available? Sure. But at the end of the day, the offense wasn't good enough.
Too many blown chances. Amazingly, they didn't have to see Itoh in this series if they won Game 2, but it wasn't meant to be.
This is still a successful season, but there is still a crossroads not knowing where this team goes moving forward. Taira could be posted, Kona Takahashi could sign with an MLB team in free agency. Can the hitters develop and use this experience? Nobody knows the future.
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