Ryoya Kurihara hits walk-off grand slam for SoftBank Hawks

Ryoya Kurihara hit a walk-off grand slam in the bottom of the ninth inning to lead the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks to a 6-2 victory over the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters. This win puts the Hawks one victory away from advancing to the Japan Series.

The victory highlights the impact of the NPB's new 2026 Climax Series regulations. Because the Hawks finished the regular season with a 13-game lead over the third-place Fighters, they were granted a two-game advantage at the start of the final stage. Combined with their two consecutive wins, the Hawks hold a 4-0 advantage in the series. To advance, the Fighters must win five consecutive games, as any loss or draw will result in the Hawks securing their spot in the Japan Series.