Fukuoka Softbank Hawks

Japanese Baseball Jun 29, 2021

Wataru Matsumoto earns win, Kaima Taira ties NPB record for Lions

The Seibu reliever pitched his 38th game without giving up a run during Monday's outing against the Hawks.

Japanese Baseball Jun 27, 2021

Naoto Nishiguchi rescues Eagles in win over Hawks

The rookie took over midway through the first inning after starting pitcher Koichi Takada was ejected for hitting a batter in the head.

Baseball / Japanese Baseball | The week in NPB May 31, 2021

Dragons help Central League get off to fast start in interleague play

by Jason Coskrey

Round one goes to the Central League and, of all teams, the Chunichi Dragons. Interleague play kicked off across NPB last week, and the Dragons, who were in fifth place in the CL after the first-half of intraleague competition, are at the top of the ...

Japanese Baseball May 30, 2021

Giants snap 11-game losing streak against Hawks

Justin Smoak homered and drove in three runs to lift the defending Central League champion Yomiuri Giants past the Pacific League's Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks 4-3 on Sunday in interleague action. Smoak singled in two first-inning runs off Tsuyoshi Wada (3-3), and after Kazuma Okamoto broke ...

Baseball / Japanese Baseball | The week in NPB May 24, 2021

Pacific League clubs likely looking forward to return of interleague play

by Jason Coskrey

If Pacific League fans and teams look happier and more upbeat than usual, it's probably because it's that time of year again. Tuesday marks the start of interleague season, a period PL teams probably anticipate as much many in Japan look forward to Golden Week. ...

Baseball / Japanese Baseball May 21, 2021

Lions' Zach Neal holds off Hawks

Zach Neal delivered a vintage performance, allowing one run over six innings.

Japanese Baseball May 18, 2021

Hawks to play behind closed doors during state of emergency

The Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks will play their home games behind closed doors while Fukuoka Prefecture remains under a state of emergency to curb coronavirus infections, the Pacific League club said Tuesday. The reigning Japan Series champions have decided to shut spectators out of Fukuoka's PayPay ...

Baseball / Japanese Baseball | The week in NPB Apr 26, 2021

NPB prepares to go back behind closed doors

by Jason Coskrey

Last week began with a crowd of 17,712 at Tokyo Dome for a showdown between the Hanshin Tigers and Yomiuri Giants, the top two teams in the Central League. There were 15,345 fans present at the Big Egg on Sunday, when the Kyojin faced the ...

Baseball / Japanese Baseball | The week in NPB Apr 19, 2021

Carter Stewart Jr. takes important first step in NPB

by Jason Coskrey

Stewart’s day wasn’t groundbreaking, but his career path might be.

Baseball / Japanese Baseball Apr 16, 2021

Ryoya Kurihara, Livan Moinelo step up in Hawks' win over Buffaloes

Ryoya Kurihara's two-run double in the fifth capped a rally by the Hawks.

Baseball / Japanese Baseball | The week in NPB Apr 12, 2021

Tigers hit ground running as Teruaki Sato continues to excite

by Jason Coskrey

Let’s all stand back for a minute and marvel at Teruaki Sato. The Hanshin Tigers rookie is just 15 games into his career and already among the players generating the most buzz in NPB. Sato produced one of the early highlights of the season on Friday ...