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2036 Japan Series
It's the first time since 2032 for the Arrows in the JS. For the Carp, they haven't been back since they won it all in 2024. Arrows have home field since it's an even year.
Game 1: Shizuoka 5, Hiroshima 1
Now THAT is a bounceback game. Arrows starter Shigejiro Matsumoto pitched 7 strong innings, allowing only 1 run on 4 hits and a walk, striking out 12. The Arrows offense loaded up on platoon righties to face Carp leftie Yuko Yamamoto, but it was regulars who did the damage, like PotG C Yasutoki Kato with his two RBIs and one HR.
Game 2: Shizuoka 6, Hiroshima 1
Hard to tell who was the star of this game for Shizuoka - DH Masuho Aoyama who clubbed a pair of solo home runs, CF Yukiichi Tsuchiya for his 3-run jack in the 3rd, or starter Atsumori Maeda, who threw 8 innings of one-run ball, striking out eight. The Carp offense is getting stymied, but when the series moves to Hiroshima, all bets are off. The Carp are 49-22 at home...and the Arrows are 52-19 on the road.
Game 3: Hiroshima 4, Shizuoka 2
That's the downside to a groundballer like Arrows starter Joe Rogers - if all those hits come at once, it's bad news. Rogers allowed 4 runs in the 3rd on a trio of singles, and that was all the Carp needed. Hiroshima ace Hikaru Honda struck out 11 Shizuoka batters in 7 1/3 innings of work.
Game 4: Hiroshima 1, Shizuoka 0
The Carp slammed the door even harder in this one, with starter Motosugu Kinoshta and closer Ian Kahaloa combining on a 4-hitter shutout. Arrows CF Yukiichi Tsuchiya stole 3 bases, but no one came around to score in this one. Tie series.
Game 5: Shizuoka 7, Hiroshima 1
That said, the Carp rotation is known for being top-heavy, and with the top two guys spent, here comes the pain. 1B Tomosaburo Morioka and CF Yukiichi Tsuchiya both launched 2-run home runs in the middle innings, C Yasutoki Kato continued his ridiculous playoff performance with another home run, and spot starter Rintaro Takashima threw 6 innings of 1-run ball. And now the series returns to Shizuoka...
Game 6: Hiroshima 4, Shizuoka 3
The Hiroshima Carp came from behind to upend the Arrows and spoil the celebrations, with a 2-out passed ball scoring Carp DH Kota Hayashi in the top of the 6th to get to the final score. Hiroshima 3B Kodai Matsuoka earned PotG honours with his 3-for-4 line and RBI double to give the Carp the lead in the 5th. Matsumoto struck out 11 over 6 2/3 but gave up all 4 runs in the loss. Carp closer Ian Kahaloa with his 5th postseason save, and we're going to Game 7.
Game 7: Shizuoka 3, Hiroshima 2
No repeat of 2032 here. The Arrows are back on top and loving it. Shizuoka starter Atsumori Maeda went 7 strong innings, and closer Yasunaga Suzuki pitched a clean 2 innings with 4 Ks for the save. The Arrows got all their runs in the 3rd, as RF Luis Alejandrez hit an RBI double, 3B Koji Kashima cashed him with a single, and 1B Tomosaburo Morioka hit a single that scored Kashima thanks to an error from Carp RF Noriaki Kawakami.
Arrows catcher Yasutoki Kato and his ridiculous .545/.560/.818 slash line and 2 HRs over the 7-game series earned MVP honours. Kato has a history of being a playoff beast in the previous two title runs, but this was otherworldly.
As Yasunaga Suzuki struck out Hiroshima's shortstop Mitsuchika Koizumi, the bells rang out all over Shizuoka - this night and forever, the Arrows are champions.
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