Category: Baseball

In Central League action on September 19, the Yomiuri Giants routed the Chunichi Dragons 14-1. The Giants’ offense exploded for 15 hits and 14 runs from the early to middle innings, while starter Masahiro Tanaka picked up his 4th win of the season, allowing just 1 run over 7 strong innings. Dragons starter Nakanishi took the loss after surrendering 5 runs, once again exposing his shaky early-inning form. Since this was the Dragons’ final game of the season at the Tokyo Dome, manager Kazuki Inoue was hit with heavy booing from the crowd — a moment that became a hot topic on 5ch. Threads mixed criticism of Inoue’s in-game decisions, complaints about the home-plate umpire, and concern over Nakanishi’s future.

Dragons　0 0 1　 0 0 0　 0 0 0 ｜ 1

Giants　2 0 0　 6 2 4　 0 0 0 ｜14

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Source: nikkansports.com / Original article here

*This article is excerpted and summarized from the 5ch (Geinou/Sports Express+) thread “[Baseball] Central League: Giants 14-1 Dragons [9/19] — Giants win again, Tanaka goes 7 innings/1 run, offense racks up 15 hits/14 runs; Dragons drop another, Nakanishi allows 5.”

On September 19, 2026, a 5ch live thread following the Giants–Dragons game at Tokyo Dome lit up. Early on, a tense glove play had fans debating a pitcher’s reflexes — “Reaching out with your hand there was a mistake, that’s a grounder you have to trust the second baseman on and let go through” — but the lineup then flipped the game with three straight RBI hits. “How long has it been since we saw three consecutive RBI hits?” fans marveled, with some calling for starter Masahiro Tanaka to stay in the game, and a bit of banter with Tigers fans over the Giants having swept the Dragons in a three-game series that same week.

※This article is compiled as an excerpt and summary from the 5ch (“Hello Pro” board) thread “Giants Acting Manager 142.”

On September 19, 2026, a thread on 5ch’s Nandemo Jikkyō G board (a big general sports-chat forum) about the Yokohama–Chunichi “must-win showdown” blew up into a debate over the Central League’s basement race. The centerpiece was a chart showing Chunichi hasn’t made the Climax Series (CS, Japan’s version of the postseason) even once since 2013 — drawing comments like “NPB needs to fix this” about a team that still can’t qualify even though 3 of the league’s 6 teams make the playoffs. The talk also branched into draft-lottery luck and the state of the farm system’s young pitchers, going well beyond a simple standings discussion.

55AnonymousSep 19, 2026 14:24

It's already over lol

96AnonymousSep 19, 2026 15:27

Neo Kono [Chunichi's Ne'o Kono, converted infielder-pitcher] gave up 5 runs in the 1st inning against the Hayate [likely an opposing farm/minor-league squad].

102AnonymousSep 19, 2026 15:33

Re: #96
Could he get released over this?

103AnonymousSep 19, 2026 15:34

Re: #96
Guess he's a position player again starting next year.

*This article is compiled from excerpts and a summary of the 5ch (Nandemo Jikkyō G) thread “[Breaking] Chunichi Dragons, Today’s Finally the Big Showdown wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww” (the string of “w”s is 5ch shorthand for laughter, like “lol” repeated).

Core Hiroshima Carp players Morishita, Tokoda, and Sakakura have all become eligible for free agency, sparking discussion on 5ch about the possibility of several of them leaving for other teams at once. Under NPB’s FA system, signing an A- or B-ranked free agent requires the signing team to hand over compensation talent, so the debate has also turned to which clubs might actually make a move. Opinions in the thread were split between those blaming the team’s low salary levels and those saying the players are simply past their peak, with plenty of criticism aimed at front-office management as well. The thread also brought up Sakakura’s repeated controversial remarks and the team’s official social media posts.

*This article is compiled and summarized from the 5ch (Nandemo Jikkyo G) thread “[Bad News] Hiroshima Carp Set for Unprecedented NPB First: Three B-Rank-or-Higher Free Agents Set to Leave.”

In the September 18 Central League matchup, the Giants and Chunichi Dragons were locked in a scoreless pitchers’ duel through nine innings — until the Giants’ Izumiguchi delivered a dramatic walk-off two-run homer in the bottom of the ninth, sealing a 2-0 win and snapping the Giants’ losing streak. Chunichi starter Yumeto Kanamaru had been grinding through a tough season, sitting at 5 wins, 10 losses, and a 2.72 ERA over 24 games coming into the start, but after surrendering the walk-off shot he was saddled with the ironic distinction of his first career complete game in a loss. On 5ch, reactions ranged from sympathy for Kanamaru to frustration with Chunichi’s weak run support and celebration of the Giants’ win.

Chunichi　0 0 0　 0 0 0　 0 0 0　 |0

Giants　0 0 0　 0 0 0　 0 0 2X |2

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Source: nikkansports.com / Original article here

*This article was compiled and summarized from the 5ch (Sports News+) thread “[Baseball] Central League: Giants 2x-0 Dragons [9/18] — Giants’ Izumiguchi hits walk-off two-run homer! Chunichi’s Kanamaru left out to dry (Muengo).”

In Central League play on September 18, the Hanshin Tigers beat the Hiroshima Carp 2-1 to extend their winning streak. Starter Kotaro Otake worked seven scoreless innings, and back-to-back RBI hits from Teruaki Sato and Yusuke Oyama in the 4th gave the Tigers the lead. Kudo closed it out in the ninth. On 5ch’s live-game thread, posters praised Otake’s strong outing and voiced confidence in catcher Torai Fushimi, who has been holding down the position while the team’s regular catcher is out — though plenty also flagged the shaky defense after shortstop Seiya Kinoura dropped a fly ball, leaving opinion split.

Hiroshima 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 | 1

Hanshin 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 X | 2

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Source: nikkansports.com / Original article here

*This article is excerpted and summarized from the 5ch (Geinou/Sports Express+) thread “[Baseball] Central League: Tigers 2-1 Carp [9/18] — Tigers win again, Otake goes 7 scoreless, back-to-back RBI hits from Teruaki Sato and Oyama, Carp drop another.”

On 5ch’s “Nandemo Jikkyo G” (Anything Goes Live) board, a thread titled “Baseball’s ‘just try it’ barrier is way too high” drew 41 replies. Posters pointed out that you need a full set of gear (bat, ball, glove), that you can’t even field a proper game without enough players to cover every position, and that batted balls travel far enough to require a lot of open space. Others pushed back, noting that “aside from gym clothes, all the equipment is usually provided” and “you only need two people to play catch.” The discussion eventually expanded into comparisons with soccer and basketball, and even the historical question of why baseball became so entrenched in popularity during the Showa and Heisei eras.

*This article is compiled from excerpts and a summary of the 5ch (Nandemo Jikkyo G) thread “[Sad News] Baseball, the “just give it a try” barrier is way too high.”

The Dodgers clinched their 5th consecutive NL West division title on the 17th (18th in Japan) with a lopsided road win over the Reds, backed by a barrage of runs and strong pitching. It’s their 13th division title in the past 14 years. Because the title came while Shohei Ohtani remains sidelined all season — having given up pitching entirely due to injury — commenters on 5channel’s live thread were split between those calling it “proof this team can win without Ohtani” and those firing back that “it’s because of Ohtani that this dynasty exists in the first place.”

On the 17th (18th Japan time), the Dodgers cruised to victory on the road against the Reds. Facing a magic number of just 1 to clinch the NL West, they won the game and secured their 5th straight division title.

Tucker, freshly bumped up to the No. 3 spot in the order, got things going in the first inning with a 2-run homer, his 16th of the season. In the second, a Freeman sacrifice fly to center and a Tucker RBI double tacked on two more runs. In the fourth, with the bases loaded and one out, Muncy ripped a 2-RBI double down the right-field line, and rookie DePaula followed with an RBI single to right to extend the lead further. In the ninth, Rojas — who has said this will be his final season as a player — added an insurance solo shot, his 4th of the year.

On the mound, starter Wrobleski was perfect over 3 innings on just 32 pitches, fulfilling his role as the starter on a scheduled bullpen day. Backed by the huge run support, the relief corps that followed held the lead, and the Dodgers overwhelmed the Reds on both sides of the ball to complete their 5th straight division title.

Source: sponichi.co.jp / Original article here

*This article is excerpted and summarized from the 5channel (Geisports Sokuho+) thread “[NL] Dodgers clinch 5th straight division title! Despite a string of injuries including Ohtani, it’s their 13th title in the last 14 years, cementing them as the NL West’s ‘invincible champions’“.

On September 17, the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks beat Orix 7-1 to clinch their third straight Pacific League pennant. For Orix, it was a bitter way to see the title decided — swept 3-0 in the head-to-head series against the champions. On 5ch threads, users noted that the on-field celebration felt more subdued than in past years, and discussion turned to manager Hiroki Kokubo pulling off three consecutive league titles starting from his very first year in charge. Posters also recalled past managers who achieved a three-peat starting from year one, name-checking Seibu’s Watari Mori and Orix’s Hiroshi Nakajima, sparking some nostalgic trips through baseball history.

SoftBank　0 0 0　 0 0 4　 0 0 3｜7

Orix 　　0 1 0　 0 0 0　 0 0 0｜1

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Source: nikkansports.com / Original article here

※This article is excerpted and summarized from the 5ch (Geisoku+) thread “[Baseball] Pacific League B 1-7 H [9/17] Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks clinch the pennant — three-peat achieved! Orix swept 3-0.”

In a night game on September 17, the Hanshin Tigers cruised to a 7-1 win over the Hiroshima Carp. Shota Morishita launched his league-leading 34th home run, a two-run shot, as the middle-order trio of Morishita, Teruaki Sato, and Yusuke Oyama combined to drive in all 7 runs in a show of offensive firepower. On 5ch’s live game thread, comments piled up like “The Tigers are fully back lol” and “Meanwhile my team is grinding its teeth watching the champion Tigers and the BayStars mash the ball…”. The same day also brought news that the Giants’ Shunsuke Urata had been pulled from the active roster with a torn ligament in his right elbow, drawing attention as a development that could affect both the late-season pennant race and the Rookie of the Year race.

※This article is compiled and summarized from the 5ch thread “Giants Acting Manager 140.”