Nobuhiko Matsunaka went 3-for-4 and drove in three runs Sunday as the Softbank Hawks wrapped up first place in the Pacific League standings with a 4-2 win over the Seibu Lions.
Nobuhiko Matsunaka of the Hawks belts a two-run homer during the fourth inning of Sunday's
game against the Lions at Invoice Seibu Dome. Fukuoka Softbank beat Seibu 4-2 and secured a
first-place finish in the Pacific League standings.
Softbank's win means the Lions will play in the first-stage playoffs against the Chiba Lotte Marines starting on Oct. 8. The Hawks will wait to face the winner of that series in the second-stage playoffs, with the winner advancing to the Japan Series to play the Central League champions.