DeNA Faces Elimination After 1-2 Walk-Off Loss to SoftBank in Game 3
The Yokohama DeNA BayStars sit on the brink of elimination in the 2026 SMBC Japan Series after a 1-2 walk-off defeat against the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks at Mizuho PayPay Dome on October 27, leaving the club trailing 0-3 in the series. Ace pitcher Katsuki Higashi delivered a stellar performance by tossing seven shutout innings with eighty-nine pitches and six hits, holding SoftBank scoreless. However, closer Shawn Reynolds surrendered the tying run in the ninth inning, and reliever Jose Ruiz yielded a walk-off home run to Tomoya Masaki in the tenth.
In Game 3 of the Japan Series, DeNA — down two games — took their first lead of the series in the fifth, with Mimori stealing second and Furuichi singling him home.It was Mimori's third steal of the series, tying the club record held by Takuro Ishii.For a team two games down,…
Manager Ryoji Aikawa acknowledged the pitching staff’s resilience while noting the bitter finish. “We still couldn’t close it out with that final run, so the team has no choice but to reflect on it,” Aikawa stated. The loss stings particularly hard for DeNA after entering Fukuoka determined to replicate their 2024 championship run, where they recovered from an 0-2 deficit to claim the title. Game 3 marked a dramatic swing from control to defeat, leaving the club trailing 0-3.
Furuichi Tears Up After Tough Debut as Starting Catcher
Takeru Furuichi made his first career start behind the plate in the Japan Series, shouldering heavy blame after the walk-off loss. Acquired in January as compensation in the FA signing of Masashi Kuwahara, Furuichi guided Higashi through five double plays to thwart SoftBank runners. Furuichi also contributed offensively with three hits, including an RBI single in the fifth inning.
As the game ended, Furuichi looked up at the sky in disbelief and wept in the dugout, repeating that the loss was his fault. Veteran catcher Kyotaka Tobashira approached the distraught twenty-four-year-old, offering immediate perspective. “I told him, ‘You tried your best,'” Tobashira said. “If this were the fourth loss and it was all over, maybe that would be fine. But the battle is still going on. I told him that while I understand he feels regret, if players who are trying to switch gears for tomorrow see you acting like that, what will they think?”
Tobashira and Aikawa Reflect on the Cost of Postseason Pressure
Tobashira drew on his eleven-year professional career to guide Furuichi through the emotional fallout of the defeat, emphasizing that the catcher position routinely magnifies losses while shifting credit to pitchers and hitters during wins. “I’ve failed so many times,” Tobashira said. “There was a period when we couldn’t win, but we had to keep going. Because it’s his first time, some parts can’t be helped. But with a single play or a single game, the emotional ups and downs are intense. You have to absorb the weight of it, but you can let it out after everything is over. The series isn’t over yet.”
Furuichi’s journey to this stage followed his time in the Shikoku Island League Plus Tokushima, being drafted in the 2021 autumn draft, and joining DeNA in January. Furuichi subsequently logged twenty-seven appearances with a .359 batting average before earning postseason nods. Aikawa praised the young catcher’s steady play under pressure, noting that the team must regroup quickly to keep their championship hopes alive against SoftBank.
Frequently Asked Questions
How did Takeru Furuichi arrive at the Yokohama DeNA BayStars?
Furuichi joined DeNA in January as the compensation player after Masashi Kuwahara left DeNA to sign with the Seibu Lions via international free agency.
What were Katsuki Higashi’s statistics in Game 3?
Starting pitcher Katsuki Higashi threw 89 pitches across seven scoreless innings, allowing six hits while forcing five double plays.
How many career appearances had Takeru Furuichi made prior to the postseason?
Furuichi entered the postseason with seventy-two career appearances.
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