Cuban pitcher Liván Moinelo delivered an outstanding performance on Sunday at Yokohama Stadium, pitching seven scoreless innings in the second game of the 2026 Japan Series. The Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks clinched the game 4-3 against the Yokohama DeNA BayStars in ten innings.
Starting for SoftBank, Moinelo faced a critical moment in the second inning when the opposing team had runners on second and third with just one out. The left-hander skillfully navigated out of trouble with strikeouts, maintaining a zero on the scoreboard throughout his outing. Over 91 pitches, he allowed five hits, issued one intentional walk, and struck out eight batters. Moinelo exited the mound with his team leading 2-0, though he did not factor into the decision.
The bullpen couldn't preserve the Cuban's impressive work. In the eighth inning, reliever Matsumoto Yuki surrendered a three-run homer to Tsutsugo Yoshitomo, flipping the score to 3-2 in favor of DeNA. SoftBank quickly responded in the ninth, with pinch hitter Yamakawa Hotaka tying the game with a solo home run.
The decisive moment arrived in the tenth inning when Kawamura Yuto, making his first plate appearance in the Japan Series, blasted a homer to center field, sealing the 4-3 victory. Venezuelan reliever Darwinzon Hernández secured the win after escaping a jam in the ninth with runners on first and second.
With this win, SoftBank leads the best-of-seven series 2-0. They also emerged victorious in the series opener on Saturday at the same venue, defeating the BayStars 3-1 in eleven innings, with another starter delivering seven scoreless frames.
Moinelo’s Sunday performance marked his finest in the 2026 postseason. In the opening game of the Climax Series finals in mid-October against Nippon-Ham, the Cuban lasted only two and one-third innings. Prior to this, a left shoulder injury had sidelined him from mid-May until August 11, when he returned with a six-inning scoreless start. In the seven regular-season starts following his comeback, he tallied six wins, one loss, and a 0.76 ERA.
This marks the second consecutive Japan Series between SoftBank and DeNA. In 2024, the BayStars claimed the championship 4-2, dethroning the Hawks. SoftBank enters as the defending champion, having won the 2025 Japan Series. That season, Moinelo was named Pacific League MVP with a 12-3 record and a 1.46 ERA.
The next three games of the series will be held at Fukuoka's Mizuho PayPay Dome on October 27, 28, and 29. SoftBank, as the home team, holds the advantage, needing only two more wins to retain the title.
Key Questions about the 2026 Japan Series
How did Liván Moinelo perform in the second game of the 2026 Japan Series?
Liván Moinelo pitched seven scoreless innings, allowing five hits, one intentional walk, and striking out eight batters.
What were the key moments in the 4-3 victory for SoftBank against DeNA?
Key moments included a game-tying solo homer by Yamakawa Hotaka in the ninth inning and a game-winning homer by Kawamura Yuto in the tenth inning.
What is the current standing of SoftBank in the 2026 Japan Series?
SoftBank leads the series 2-0 in the best-of-seven format against the Yokohama DeNA BayStars.