Stars switching numbers, changing names becoming staple of NPB offseasons
Offseasons in NPB are about change, just not exactly the type that immediately springs to mind. Japanese baseball has seen some big-name players change teams this winter. Two-time reigning Central League MVP Yoshihiro Maru is suiting up for the Yomiuri Giants next season and All-Star ...
Three players from the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks, who won their second straight Japan Series last weekend, were among the Golden Glove winners announced Thursday by Nippon Professional Baseball. Catcher Takuya Kai, third baseman Nobuhiro Matsuda and outfielder Yuki Yanagita were named as the recipients at ...
Left-hander Ariel Miranda pitched seven strong innings and Nobuhiro Matsuda blasted two home runs on Saturday as the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks came from behind to beat the Pacific-League leading Seibu Lions 3-1. The Hawks snapped the Lions' winning streak at 12 and delayed Seibu's pennant ...
Ariel Miranda loses no-hit bid in ninth, improves to 2-0 with Hawks
Former Seattle Mariners lefty Ariel Miranda did not allow a hit until the ninth inning, and Nobuhiro Matsuda homered twice to lead the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks to a 5-1 victory over the Seibu Lions on Saturday. Miranda (2-0), pitching in his second game for the ...
Kenta Imamiya equalized early and later drove in the go-ahead runs that sparked a ninth-inning charge as the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks rallied for an 8-4 win over the Orix Buffaloes. Making his third career start, SoftBank rookie Kotaro Otake retired his first two batters at ...
PL ends scoreless tie in fifth, wraps up two-game NPB All-Star Series sweep
The Pacific League completed a two-game sweep of the NPB All-Star Series with a 5-1 win over the Central League on Saturday night. While both teams scored early in the PL's 7-6 win Friday at Kyocera Dome, the 13,760 spectators at Kumamoto Fujisakidai Stadium did ...
Shuta Ishikawa tames Lions as SoftBank stops Seibu's winning streak
Shuta Ishikawa held Japan's most potent offense to one run over eight innings in the SoftBank Hawks' 4-1 win over the Pacific League-leading Seibu Lions on Thursday. Having scored nine or more runs in their five previous games, all wins, the Hawks turned the starting ...
Hawks infielders Nobuhiro Matsuda and Kenta Imamiya headline Golden Glove Awards
The Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks had the golden touch during the regular season, postseason and Japan Series. So it should be no surprise nothing has changed now that awards season is here. With third baseman Nobuhiro Matsuda and shortstop Kenta Imamiya leading the way, the Hawks led ...
Senga collects career-high 13th victory as Hawks edge Marines
Kodai Senga picked up his career-best 13th win by holding Chiba Lotte to one earned run on six hits and two walks in seven innings as the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks beat the Marines 2-1 on Saturday for their eighth consecutive victory. Senga, who struck out ...
Hawks capitalize on sole scoring opportunity against Kishi to defeat Eagles
Fukuoka SoftBank had one scoring opportunity against Takayuki Kishi, but that was enough as Akira Nakamura singled in a run, Nobuhiro Matsuda homered and the Hawks beat the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles 2-0 on Friday night. Kishi (8-7) allowed four hits and issued an intentional ...
Matsuda, Tsutsugo carry Japan past Cuba in WBC opener
The fans waited as Nobuhiro Matsuda rounded the bases and exchanged high-fives with his teammates. They knew what was coming, and when Matsuda pumped his fist and let out a guttural yell, as is his custom after home runs, the Japanese fans packed in ...
Rosters finalized for upcoming World Baseball Classic
The Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks are set to be the most well-represented NPB team at the 2017 World Baseball Classic after the final rosters for the tournament were revealed Wednesday in the United States. The Hawks will send six players to the tournament, which begins March ...
