Yokohama DeNA Beats Hanshin 2–0 in Central League Climax Series Game 1

Yokohama DeNA BayStars defeated the Hanshin Tigers 2–0 in Game 1 of the 2026 Central League Climax Series Final Stage. The game was played Wednesday, October 14, at Koshien Stadium in Nishinomiya, Japan. Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) records a scheduled first pitch of 6:00 p.m. Japan Standard Time (JST, UTC+09:00), an actual start at 6:01 p.m. JST (09:01 UTC), and a 9:12 p.m. JST (12:12 UTC) finish. NPB marks the game final.

Hanshin vs. DeNA: Game 1 result

The official NPB Game 1 record supplies the final status, score, start and finish times, attendance, pitching decisions, and box-score totals. The NPB October schedule lists the matchup as the Central League Final Stage opener and had named Murakami and Taira as the starting pitchers.

How did DeNA win the opener?

DeNA scored once in the first inning and added a second run in the sixth on a solo home run by Sano. Hanshin was held scoreless. The official line score credits DeNA with three hits and one error, while Hanshin recorded seven hits and one error. The hit totals show that Hanshin reached more hits, but the final score was determined by the runs recorded; the numbers alone do not explain every scoring opportunity or sequence.

Taira was credited with the pitching win, Murakami took the loss, and Reynolds earned the save, according to NPB. The result confirms that both announced starters participated, but a pregame starter listing should not be mistaken for a complete account of either pitcher’s workload. NPB’s game log and box score provide the official detail for innings, substitutions, and individual events.

What does Game 1 mean for the Final Stage?

Hanshin entered the Final Stage with a one-win advantage as the Central League regular-season champion. Under the published format, the first team to reach four total stage wins advances, and games stop once the winner is decided. DeNA’s Game 1 victory therefore offsets Hanshin’s credited advantage: after this result, each club stood at one win in the race to four. The opener did not decide the series.

The BayStars’ official Final Stage announcement explains the four-win rule and Hanshin’s one-win advantage. This distinction matters when reading a series tracker: the 2–0 score is the result of one game, while the stage tally includes the champion’s starting advantage.

Where was the game, and what was the listed first-pitch time?

NPB lists Koshien as the venue. The stadium is in Nishinomiya, Hyogo Prefecture, Japan. First pitch was scheduled for 6:00 p.m. JST (UTC+09:00) on October 14, 2026, which equals 09:00 UTC on the same date. The official game record says play actually began at 6:01 p.m. JST (09:01 UTC) and ended at 9:12 p.m. JST (12:12 UTC). Japan does not observe daylight saving time, so the UTC+09:00 offset applies on that date; the game ended the same calendar day in both JST and UTC.

How could fans watch or follow the game?

The game has finished, so its live broadcast window has passed. Before the game, Sky A listed a live telecast on October 14 from 5:45 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. JST (08:45–13:30 UTC) for the Final Stage opener at Koshien. Its official program listing confirms that schedule. Availability depended on the viewer’s television package. The listing verifies the announced broadcast, not current replay or on-demand availability.

DeNA also advertised a separate public viewing at Yokohama Stadium, with the event scheduled to start at 6:00 p.m. JST and gates at 4:30 p.m. JST. That viewing took place in Yokohama; the teams played at Koshien. The club’s event notice said the public viewing was conditional on the Koshien game being played. For the final score and official play-by-play, use NPB’s completed match record. The sources checked do not confirm whether a replay remains available or establish an international streaming provider.

What is confirmed—and what is not?

• Confirmed: DeNA won 2–0; NPB marks the game final and records the date, Koshien venue, first pitch, finish time, attendance, and box score.
• Confirmed: Murakami and Taira were the announced starters; NPB credits Taira with the win, Murakami with the loss, and Reynolds with the save.
• Series context: DeNA’s win brought the clubs level at one total win apiece under the Final Stage’s four-win rule and Hanshin’s starting advantage.
• Not confirmed by the checked sources: Whether the Sky A broadcast is available on demand now, or whether it can be streamed outside Japan.

Updated October 14, 2026, after NPB posted the completed result. Times above distinguish the scheduled first pitch from the actual start and finish recorded in Japan Standard Time and UTC.