Yokohama DeNA 2-3 Hanshin (Yokohama Stadium)

Bottom of the 9th, Hanshin with two outs and a runner on first, Yamashita hits a go-ahead two-run homer off DeNA’s Irie

Hanshin
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Yokohama DeNA

Hanshin completes a comeback for their third straight win. Held to just one hit through eight innings, they scored one run in the ninth on Sato’s sacrifice fly following hits by Nakano and Morishita, then Yamashita’s two-run homer turned the game around. DeNA’s closer Irie gave up the runs, and the team failed to capitalize with bases loaded and one out in their subsequent at-bat.

Highlight: Tsutsugo’s two homers provide some consolation

Top of the 9th, 2-0. An unexpected turn of events drew cries of dismay from the home BayStars fans. This season’s 20-save closer Irie collapsed with three runs allowed, resulting in a painful comeback loss in the first game of a three-game series against league-leading Hanshin.

Yokohama Stadium

Yokohama Stadium is a multi-purpose baseball stadium that opened in 1978 and serves as the home field for the Yokohama DeNA BayStars. It was built on the former site of a US military facility and is notable for being one of the first stadiums in Japan to use natural grass.