The Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks evened the Japan Series at 1-1 with a 10-1 rout of the Hanshin Tigers in Game 2. Hotaka Yamakawa powered the win, driving in five runs with a two-run double and a three-run homer. The game was played at Mizuho PayPay Dome Fukuoka on Sunday night.
Hotaka Yamakawa began Game 1 of the Japan Series on the bench and did not even swing his bat in his lone plate appearance. The Hanshin Tigers probably would have preferred it to stay that way in Game 2. Yamakawa’s first two swings resulted in a two-run double and a three-run homer as the slugger helped power the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks to a 10-1 rout of the Tigers at Mizuho PayPay Dome Fukuoka on Sunday night.
Yamakawa drove in five runs, evening the series at 1-1 after the Hawks' loss in the opener. His performance turned the momentum, showcasing the Pacific League champions' offensive strength against the Central League's Hanshin. The Tigers struggled to respond, highlighting the Hawks' dominance in this matchup.
This result sets up an intriguing continuation to the best-of-seven series, with both teams now evenly matched.