The SoftBank Hawks of Nippon Professional Baseball suffered a home-opening two consecutive losses for the first time in 51 years, despite a game-winning three-run home run from star player Yuki Yanagita (37).

On the 29th, SoftBank lost 4-5 to the Chiba Lotte Marines in a dramatic extra-inning game held at PayPay Dome in Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan, marking their second consecutive loss.

Star hitter Yuki Yanagita recorded 1 hit, 1 home run, 3 RBIs, and 1 run in 4 at-bats. Kensuke Kondo had 3 hits, and Takashi Umino also achieved a multi-hit, but they could not prevent the team from losing.

Starting pitcher Tomohisa Ozeki struggled with 5 innings, allowing 4 hits (including 1 home run), 1 walk, 1 strikeout, and 3 earned runs. The bullpen, featuring Kazuki Sugiyama (1 inning, 1 earned run), Yuki Matsumoto (1 inning, no earned runs), Darwinzon Hernandez (1 inning, no earned runs), Roberto Osuna (1 inning, no earned runs), and Koya Fujii (1 inning, 1 earned run), allowed the extra-inning loss.

SoftBank's lead-off batter Umino hit a triple in the bottom of the third inning. Shuto Ukyo struck out, but Kondo drove in the first run with a sacrifice fly.

In the top of the fifth inning, Chiba Lotte's lead-off batter Gregory Polanco hit a double, putting him quickly in scoring position. Shogo Nakamura and Tatsuhiro Tamura were retired, but with 2 outs and a runner on third, Aki Tomosugi drew a walk, and Hiromi Oka hit a game-changing three-run home run.

SoftBank immediately countered. In the bottom of the fifth inning with 1 out, Umino hit a single, and although Shuto struck out, Kondo connected for a hit, setting up a 2-out, 1st and 2nd base opportunity. Yanagita launched a game-winning three-run home run, turning the game around.

However, SoftBank could not maintain the lead. In the top of the sixth inning, Neftali Soto hit a tying home run, and in the 10th inning of extra time, Quto Ueda's hit followed by Tomosugi's sacrifice bunt led to Oka's clutch hit, allowing Chiba Lotte to take the lead again. SoftBank was retired in order in the bottom of the 10th, resulting in back-to-back home-opening losses.

Japanese media outlet Sports Nippon Annex reported, "SoftBank outfielder Yuki Yanagita hit the team's first home run of the season. He struck back with a three-run home run, avenging the three-run home run he allowed to Oka in the previous defensive play. However, SoftBank allowed another reversal, suffering a home-opening two consecutive losses for the first time in 33 years."

Yanagita is a league star player with a career batting average of .312 over 1,452 games, with 1,597 hits in 5,122 at-bats, 265 home runs, 893 RBIs, 893 runs, 162 stolen bases, and an OPS of .944. He is also well-known in Korea as a junior who closely followed Dae-ho Lee during Lee's time with SoftBank.

Despite grounding out in both of his first two at-bats before the home run, Yanagita, who hit a crucial three-run home run, reflected, "I changed my batting approach. I had the image of giving the ball a slight angle. It was a bit off the mark, but I was able to make good contact as envisioned."

Yanagita ended up hitting into a 4-6-3 double play with no outs and a runner on first in the eighth inning. He expressed regret, stating, "It's better to hit home runs than not, but I had to connect in that situation." He remarked, "I think that was a crucial moment."

SoftBank recorded an impressive 91 wins, 3 ties, and 49 losses with a winning percentage of .650 last season, dominating the Pacific League. Having won the Japan Series 11 times, SoftBank is regarded as a powerful team that has ruled the league, winning 7 championships (2011 and 2014-2015, 2017-2020) since 2010.

The back-to-back home-opening losses are a shocking outcome for such a team as SoftBank. It marks the first home-opening two consecutive losses in 33 years since the Daiei era in 1992. They had to go back to 1974 during the Nankai era to find a time when they suffered home-opening two consecutive losses. This record has not been seen in an astounding 51 years. Yanagita noted, "If we don't win, it doesn't mean anything. I will do my best to ensure that we can turn it into a victory."

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