Hiroshima defeats Yokohama to advance to the Final Stage.
Hiroshima defeated Yokohama 4-2 in game two of the Central League First Stage (best-of-three) of the 2023 NPB Postseason on Friday at Mazda Zoom Zoom Stadium in Hiroshima, Japan.
After a 3-2 win in Game 1, Hiroshima won Game 2 by two runs and punched their ticket to the Final Stage (best-of-six) with two straight wins. Hiroshima will face the Hanshin Tigers for a spot in the Japan Series.
Hiroshima struck first in the first inning. Nishikawa hit a solo home run. Morishita continued to pitch a scoreless inning.
Morishita pitched a scoreless fifth inning before giving up a double and a sacrifice bunt in the top of the sixth and turning the mound over to the bullpen. The bullpen closed out the inning without allowing a run.
After being held to one run through five innings, the offense took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the sixth with a solo home run. The pinch-hitter came through.
A 2-2 tie in the top of the seventh put Morishita’s win on the line. But in the bottom of the eighth, a pinch-hit RBI single by Tanaka and a sacrifice fly by Akiyama gave them a 4-2 lead, and they held on for the win in the top of the ninth.
“The whole team fought well from the first inning on,” said Tanaka, who had the game-winning hit in the eighth. “I’m really happy, and my emotions exploded. Our goal was to break through in the first stage, but the fight is still ahead. We look forward to your support.”토토사이트
Hiroshima will play the first game of the Final Stage against Hanshin on April 18 at 6 p.m. in Koshien.