Alfredo Despaigne started the NPB postseason with a bang, hitting a first-inning grand slam as the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks cruised to an 8-3 victory over the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters in Game 1 of the Pacific League Climax Series' first stage on Saturday.
The Hawks can now advance to the final stage against the PL champion Seibu Lions with either a win or a tie over the next two games at Yafuoku Dome — since all Climax Series stages finishing in a tie are won by the higher-finishing team from the regular season standings.
With the score tied 1-1 in the bottom of the first, Despaigne came up with no outs, and Fighters pitcher Naoyuki Uwasawa could not locate his fastball when he tried to go low in the zone. His 1-2 fastball missed high and outside but was straight as could be and the Hawks designated hitter clubbed it out to right field for an opposite-field home run and a 5-1 Hawks lead.