Nippon-Ham Fighters fall to SoftBank Hawks; catcher Tamiyasu injured

On July 14, 2026, the Hokkaido Nippon‑Ham Fighters lost 2–4 to the league‑leading Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks, widening the gap to five games. Starting pitcher Kitayama Gensuke delivered a strong effort with eight strikeouts over seven innings, but the team could not overcome the solo home run by Hawks’ Takahiro Miyazaki in the ninth.

Ahead of the third game of the series on July 15, pitcher Ito Daikai, who threw seven solid innings against the Lions on July 10, said the team will focus on winning each game and not get distracted by the standings. He praised the Hawks’ hitters and emphasized the need to execute in each at‑bat.

The club is also considering roster moves as the trade deadline approaches, with rumors of a surprise acquisition to strengthen the starting rotation.

During the July 15 match, catcher Yusuke Tamiyasu was struck on his left middle finger by a 151 km/h fastball, sustaining a possible fracture that will sideline him pending diagnosis. The injury raises concerns about the Fighters’ catching depth as they chase the Hawks in the pennant race.