Key points

On October 24, 2026, at Yokohama Stadium in Game 1 of the SMBC Japan Series 2026, Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks starting pitcher Naoyuki Uwasawa pitched seven innings, allowing six hits and no runs, playing a major role in his team's 3-1 victory. He overcame a bases-loaded threat with one out in the first inning by inducing a double play. In the seventh inning, despite being struck on the right thigh by a batted ball, he continued pitching and finished by striking out the batter swinging with a 151 km/h fastball, celebrating with a fist pump. His resilient pitching stood out amid poor weather conditions. [1] [2] [4]

Naoyuki Uwasawa's Strong Pitching Preserves SoftBank's Lead

In Game 1 of the SMBC Japan Series 2026 held on October 24 at Yokohama Stadium, SoftBank starting pitcher Naoyuki Uwasawa threw 97 pitches over seven innings, allowing six hits, striking out four, and giving up no runs. Despite struggling with control early in the game under adverse weather conditions, he gradually regained his form and maintained his team's lead. SoftBank won the game 3-1. In the first inning, Uwasawa faced a bases-loaded situation with one out but calmly escaped the threat with a double play. [1] [4] [3]

Uwasawa completed seven innings, fulfilling his role as the starter with 97 pitches, four strikeouts, and zero runs allowed. Although the early innings were played in rainy, poor weather, from the second inning onward he pitched rhythmically, preventing runners from reaching second base through the sixth inning. His steady performance helped the team maintain their lead. Uwasawa's tenacious pitching contributed significantly to the team's victory. [4]

Escaping the First-Inning Bases-Loaded Threat with a Double Play

In the first inning, Uwasawa faced a critical situation with one out and the bases loaded. He induced a ground ball double play off the bat of the fifth batter, Kajiwara, escaping the inning without allowing a run. His composed pitching in this moment shifted the momentum in favor of his team and played an important role in preserving the lead. Despite struggling with control, he maintained focus and minimized the damage, helping SoftBank overcome an early crisis. [1]

This bases-loaded threat in the first inning was overcome by Uwasawa's ability to induce a ground ball double play from Kajiwara, the fifth batter. This prevented any runs from scoring and was a key moment that helped the team gain momentum. Uwasawa's calm response laid the foundation for the eventual victory. [1]

Seventh-Inning Incident and Decision to Continue Pitching

In the seventh inning, the lead-off batter Kajiwara hit a ball that struck Uwasawa's right thigh. Trainers rushed to the mound, but Uwasawa showed no signs of pain and, after some warm-up pitches, chose to continue pitching. His mental toughness was evident despite the adverse weather and the incident. Manager Hiroki Kokubo explained that he decided not to send in a pinch hitter at this point because he believed maintaining the 1-0 lead was crucial. Uwasawa finished the inning by striking out the batter swinging with a 151 km/h fastball and celebrated with a fist pump. [1] [5] [6] [2]

After the incident, Uwasawa calmly continued pitching. Although he allowed a single to Mimori, he retired Hayashi on a fly out to right field and struck out Tobashira swinging to escape the inning. The final out in the seventh was recorded with a 151 km/h fastball, accompanied by a spirited fist pump. Manager Kokubo said, "I agonized over the decision, but I thought if we were going to win today, it would be 1-0," explaining why he did not send in a pinch hitter. Uwasawa's pitching directly contributed to the team's victory. [5] [1] [6]