The Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks defeated the Chiba Lotte Marines 4-3 on October 2, 2026, at ZOZO Marine Stadium in front of a crowd of 29,460. SoftBank secured the victory behind home runs from Kensuke Kondo and Yuma Yamamoto, holding off a late-inning push by the Marines in a game that lasted three hours and seven minutes.
Early Scoring and Pitching Duels in Chiba
SoftBank opened the scoring in the first inning to take an early lead, while the Marines’ offense remained quiet through the initial frames. Marines starter Yusei Maeda settled in after yielding early runs, working through 7 2/3 innings while striking out nine batters and allowing three earned runs on nine hits across 122 pitches. SoftBank starter Go Suzuki countered by pitching deep into the game, keeping Chiba's bats largely in check before turning things over to the bullpen.
Home Runs Shape the Middle Innings
Chiba broke through in the fourth inning when Inoue hit a solo home run off Yusei Maeda, marking his eighth of the season. The Marines added another long ball in the eighth inning when Sato launched a two-run home run, his 18th of the year, narrowing the deficit. For SoftBank, Kensuke Kondo provided a solo blast—his 32nd home run of the season—off reliever Tanaka, while Yuma Yamamoto delivered a crucial blow with a three-run home run off reliever Yokoyama in the ninth inning to push the Hawks ahead.
SoftBank Bullpen Secures 4-3 Win
The ninth inning proved decisive as SoftBank’s bullpen worked to protect the narrow lead. Relief pitcher Go Suzuki recorded a crucial out, and Sugiyama closed out the frame despite late baserunners. Chiba mounted a threat in the bottom of the ninth against the SoftBank relief corps, drawing walks and putting pressure on the defense, but the Hawks secured the final outs to lock down the 4-3 win.
SoftBank and Chiba Record Official Game Statistics
Records from the official box score show SoftBank totaled four runs on seven hits with four walks, leaving four runners on base. Chiba recorded three runs on nine hits with three walks, leaving eight runners on base. The game was called by home plate umpire Ishiyama, with base umpires Nagayuki, Hara, and Kawaguchi officiating the matchup.
What Happened in the October 2 Game?
What was the final score of the October 2, 2026 game? The Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks defeated the Chiba Lotte Marines 4-3 at ZOZO Marine Stadium.
How many spectators attended the game? A crowd of 29,460 fans was recorded at ZOZO Marine Stadium for the matchup.
Which players hit home runs during the contest? SoftBank’s Kensuke Kondo and Yuma Yamamoto hit home runs, while Chiba received home runs from Inoue and Sato.
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