Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks starter Kohei Arihara reacts during Game 1 of the Japan Series against the Yokohama DeNA BayStars at Yokohama Stadium on Saturday evening.
15:31 JST, October 27, 2024
YOKOHAMA — Fukuoka Daiei Hawks manager Hiroki Kokubo had no doubt who would get the ball to start Game 1 of the Japan Series.
“Because of what he did during the season, he was the ace that was recognized by the fans,” Kokubo said of right-hander Kohei Arihara. “For this team right now, that’s the position he fills.”
Until a wild ninth inning after Arihara left the game caused some late drama, the veteran had lived up to expectations and took full control of the opener against the Yokohama BayStars with a masterful performance.
Arihara allowed four hits in seven scoreless innings and, in a rare at-bat, delivered a two-run single as the Hawks posted a 5-3 victory Saturday night at Yokohama Stadium.
“I want to be able to throw my pitches from the first pitch,” said Arihara, who leads the Pacific League this season with 14 wins.
He gave up a single and a walk in the first inning, but got out of trouble by letting Toshiro Miyazaki ground out to second base. From there he found his rhythm, mixing up his cut fastball and slider.
“I had good control on my breaking pitches,” said Arihara, who made things especially difficult for left-handed hitters by cutting off the inside corner of the plate.
The hits he allowed starting in the second inning were harmless flies on jammed pitches or ground balls, and he continued to pile up the outs.
He struck out four and walked two, but his exploits were not limited to the mound. Since the designated hitter was not used, he had to take his swing at the plate. And for the Hawks, it was a good thing that he did.
The Hawks had runners on second and third with two outs in the second inning when the BayStars elected to intentionally walk Takuya Kai to throw to Arihara – who took a 90 mph fastball from Yokohama starter Andre Jackson hit to right field to drive in two runs.
“I was just swinging to get the bat on the ball,” Arihara said. “It was a miracle.”
Darwinzon Hernandez replaced Arihara in the eighth and gave up one hit in a scoreless inning.
The Hawks padded their lead with three runs in the top of the ninth, but saw the BayStars bounce back in front of the home crowd of 33,147 with a rally against Roberto Osuna, who managed to limit the damage to three runs before wrapping up the win.
The Hawks are aiming for the franchise’s 12th title and first since winning four in a row between 2017 and 2020. The BayStars, who finished third in the Central League but battled their way through the Climax Series, are looking to regain their third title and first since 1998.
The 32-year-old Arihara spent six seasons with the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters, who made him Waseda University’s No. 1 pick in 2014. He then made the jump to the big leagues, where he made two fewer appearances. -spectacular seasons with the Texas Rangers before returning to Japan by signing with the Hawks in 2023.
