Seibu beats Lotte to clinch second place, to host Climax Series first stage
In short
Seibu beat Lotte 7-1 on October 5 to confirm second place in the Pacific League and win the right to host the Climax Series first stage at its home stadium, Belluna Dome, from October 10. Starter Takahashi Mitsunari threw six innings and allowed one run in the win. Nikkei reported Seibu will face third-place Nippon Ham, with league champion SoftBank holding a two-win advantage in the final stage.
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Seibu beat Lotte 7-1 on October 5 to confirm second place in the Pacific League, Nikkei reported, citing Kyodo. The win gave the club the right to host the Climax Series first stage at its home stadium, Belluna Dome, where it will meet third-place Nippon Ham from October 10, according to Nikkei. Nippon TV News had reported earlier in the day that a draw or better would be enough to settle second place. [ 1 , 3 , 4 ]
Takahashi Mitsunari started for Seibu. Nippon TV News reported at 19:50 that he left after six innings having allowed one run, with the game tied and second place still requiring a draw or better. Jiji Press reported he gave up seven hits but held the damage to a single run on a solo home run, earning the win. [ 2 , 5 ]
Jiji Press reported Takahashi was concerned about a blister on his right hand before the game. The pitcher, in his 12th season with Seibu and without experience of pitching in a home Climax Series, said: “I am simply happy. I am looking forward to seeing what kind of pitching I can produce on that stage.” [ 5 ]
Jiji Press reported it is the first time Seibu will play a home Climax Series since 2019, when it won the league, and that the team has reached the top three for the first time in four years. It added that attendance at Belluna Dome this season exceeded 1.84 million over 72 home games, including games at regional ballparks, the most since actual figures began being published in 2005. [ 5 ]
Manager Nishiguchi, asked about the significance of hosting the Climax Series, said: “The number of fans cheering us on is different. The fans' support is big after all,” according to Jiji Press. [ 5 ]
Nikkei reported that SoftBank, which won the league, will begin the Climax Series final stage with a two-win advantage because both Seibu and Nippon Ham finished 10 or more games behind. In the Central League, where Hanshin won a second straight title, the gap to second-place Yomiuri and third-place DeNA finished under 10 games, so Hanshin's advantage will be one win, Nikkei reported. [ 4 ]
Why it matters
The result gives Seibu home-field advantage for the first stage of the Climax Series, the playoff that decides the Pacific League's representative in the Japan Series, something the club last had in 2019. The final-stage standings matter for the whole league: because Seibu and Nippon Ham both finished 10 or more games behind champion SoftBank, SoftBank starts the final stage with a two-win advantage.
Key facts
- Seibu beat Lotte 7-1 on October 5, confirming second place in the Pacific League. [ 3 , 4 , 5 ]
- Seibu will host the Climax Series first stage at its home stadium, Belluna Dome. [ 3 , 4 ]
- Nikkei reported the first stage begins on October 10 against third-place Nippon Ham. [ 4 ]
- Takahashi Mitsunari started, threw six innings and allowed one run on seven hits, the run coming on a solo home run. [ 2 , 5 ]
- Seibu last hosted the Climax Series at home in 2019, the year it won the league. [ 5 ]
- Jiji Press reported attendance at Belluna Dome this season exceeded 1.84 million over 72 home games, the most since actual figures began being published in 2005. [ 5 ]
- Manager Nishiguchi said the number of fans supporting the team differs and that their backing is large. [ 5 ]
- League champion SoftBank will hold a two-win advantage in the Climax Series final stage because Seibu and Nippon Ham both finished 10 or more games behind. [ 4 ]
Confirmed by several sources
Still unclear
- Whether Takahashi Mitsunari recorded his first double-digit win in three years. Raised before the game by one outlet as a possibility; the later reports do not state his win total.
- The condition of the blister on Takahashi's right hand and whether it affected his pitching. Mentioned only by Jiji Press as a concern before the game, with no follow-up detail.
- The season attendance figure of more than 1.84 million over 72 home games. Carried by a single outlet, with no corroborating figure from the other documents.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- Nippon TV News reports that a draw or better would confirm Seibu in second place, with Takahashi Mitsunari starting and a first double-digit win in three years in reach. [ 1 ]
- Nippon TV News reports Takahashi has left after six innings having allowed one run, with the game tied in the late innings and second place still needing a draw or better. [ 2 ]
- Nippon TV News reports Seibu beat Lotte, confirming second place and the home hosting of the Climax Series first stage. [ 3 ]
- Nikkei reports Seibu won 7-1 and will host third-place Nippon Ham at Belluna Dome from October 10. [ 4 ]
- Jiji Press reports Takahashi's post-game comments and the season's home attendance. [ 5 ]