2023 Japan Series
 | This article documents a current Japan Series. Information may change rapidly as the event progresses. Initial news reports, scores, or statistics may be unreliable. The last updates to this article may not reflect the most current information. (October 2023) |
| 2023 Japan Series | ||||||||||
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| Dates | October 28 – November 5 | |||||||||
| Venue(s) | Kyocera Dome Osaka (Orix) Koshien Stadium (Hanshin) | |||||||||
| Broadcast | ||||||||||
| Television | Fuji TV (Games 1 & 7) NHK-BS1 (Games 1, 2, 3, & 5) TX Network (Game 2) TBS (Games 3 & 6) NNS (Game 4) TV Asahi (Game 5) | |||||||||
| Radio | NHK Radio 1 ABC Radio MBS | |||||||||
| Streaming | ||||||||||
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The 2023 Japan Series (known as the SMBC Nippon Series 2023 for sponsorship reasons) is the ongoing championship series of Nippon Professional Baseball's (NPB) 2023 season. The 74th edition of the Japan Series, it is a best-of-seven playoff between the winners of the Central League (CL) and Pacific League's (PL) postseason tournament, the Climax Series. The Hanshin Tigers and Orix Buffaloes both won their respective CL and PL titles in the regular season, which advanced both teams directly to the final stages of the Climax Series; both then earned Japan Series berths by winning their respective CL and PL Climax Series.
The Tigers and the Buffaloes both play in Japan's Kansai region, making it only the second time that two Kansai-based teams have played each other in the Japan Series, the other being in 1964. Because of the teams' close proximity, the series has been dubbed "The Great Kansai Derby" and the "Namba Line Series". While Orix won the previous year's championship, the Tiger's last title came 38 years ago in 1985, the second longest championship drought in NPB.
The series began on October 28 and is currently tied 3–3.
Background
The Hanshin Tigers won their eleventh-straight game on September 14, capping off their longest win streak of the season. The win also clinched the team their first Central League (CL) pennant since 2005 and their sixth overall.[1] Hanshin finished the previous season in third place with a losing record. At the end of the year, manager Akihiro Yano stepped down and former Tigers' player and manager Akinobu Okada was again brought on to lead the team. After back-to-back seven- and nine-game win streaks from May 11 to 30, the Tigers maintained first place for the remainder of the season.[2] League winners for the first time since 2005, the Tigers advanced directly to the CL Climax Series' final stage where they played the Hiroshima Toyo Carp. With the help of the one-win advantage the winners of the pennant receive, Hanshin swept the Carp in three games to advance to the Japan Series for the first time since 2014.[3]
Six days after the Tigers clinched their title, the Orix Buffaloes secured their third-straight and 15th overall Pacific League (PL) pennant. Despite slugging outfielder Masataka Yoshida leaving the team in the offseason to play in Major League Baseball, Orix was still able to lead in the standings throughout the majority of the season and clinched the title relatively early compared to the previous two seasons. It was the Buffaloes third three-peat in its history, its first since 1975–1978 when they won four straight as the Braves. It was the first three consecutive Pacific League championships since the Seibu Lions won five straight between 1990 and 1994.[4] Orix advanced directly to the PL Climax Series' final stage where they played the Chiba Lotte Marines for the right to move on to the Japan Series. The Buffaloes defeated the Marines four games to one, including their one-win advantage. It is their third straight Japan Series appearance.[5]
| First Stage | Final Stage | Japan Series | |||||||||||
| 1 | Hanshin Tigers | 4 | |||||||||||
| 2 | Hiroshima Toyo Carp | 2 | 2 | Hiroshima Toyo Carp | 0 | ||||||||
| 3 | Yokohama DeNA BayStars | 0 | CL1 | Hanshin Tigers | 3 | ||||||||
| PL1 | Orix Buffaloes | 3 | |||||||||||
| 1 | Orix Buffaloes | 4 | |||||||||||
| 2 | Chiba Lotte Marines | 2 | 2 | Chiba Lotte Marines | 1 | ||||||||
| 3 | Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks | 1 | |||||||||||
Series notes
The Hanshin Tigers' and the Orix Buffaloes' home stadiums are Koshien Stadium and Kyocera Dome, respectively. The stadiums' respective cities, Nishinomiya and Osaka, both fall within Japan's Kansai region and are just over twenty minutes apart via train. Because of the close proximity, the series has been dubbed "The Great Kansi Derby" and the "Namba Line Series" for the train line that helps connect the two stadiums, the Namba Line.[6][7] This Japan Series is only be the second time that two Kansai-based teams have played each other, the other being the 1964 Japan Series when the Nankai Hawks defeated the Tigers 4–3.[6] Despite Orix's recent success, Hanshin has a much larger cultural presence. Founded in 1935, the Tigers were formed during the earliest days of professional baseball in Japan. Additionally, the team plays in historic Koshien Stadium, the oldest stadium in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). The team's notorious championship struggles also add to its storied history. Conversely, the Buffaloes were formed from a merger between the Orix BlueWave and the Kintetsu Buffaloes during the contentious 2004 Nippon Professional Baseball realignment and prior to that the team played in Nishinomiya and Kobe before calling Osaka home after the merger.[8] Economists predict that the series' economic impact in Japan could surpass the benefits of the Japan national baseball team winning the 2023 World Baseball Classic earlier in the year.[9]
The series is the third straight Japan Series appearance for Orix, losing in 2021 but winning in 2022, their fifth championship.[6][10] Hanshin, however, entered the series with much less recent Japan Series experience. The team last appeared in a Japan Series in 2014, a series they lost. The last and only time the Tigers won a championship was in 1985.[6] The 38-year-long championship drought is the second longest in NPB, only one year shorter than the Carp's.[2] Some fans believe that the team was cursed during the 1985 season and that it has contributed to Hanshin's baseball struggles after their championship.[11] Tigers manager Okada won a title with the team as a player in 1985 and also lead the team to a Japan Series berth in 2005 during his first managerial stint with Hanshin, only to be swept by the Marines.[2]
Both teams has similar statistics during the regular season. The Buffaloes and Tigers had the best and second-best records in NPB, respectively, with 86–53–4 and 85–53–5. Similarly, the Hanshin pitching staff's 2.66 team earned run average (ERA) was the an NPB best, with the Buffaloes a close second with a 2.73 team ERA.[6] In their only regular season meeting during interleague play in June, Orix won the series 2–1.[12] Home field advantage for the Japan Series alternates between the Pacific and Central leagues every year. For this series, it was the PL's turn to hold the advantage, so home field was awarded to the Buffaloes.[13] The designated hitters will not be used in games three, four, and five, played at the Tigers' Koshien Stadium, as the rule has never been adopted in the Central League.[10]
Summary
Series tied, 3−3.
| Game | Date | Score | Location | Time | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | October 28 | Hanshin Tigers − 8, Orix Buffaloes − 0 | Kyocera Dome Osaka | 3:20 | 33,701[14] |
| 2 | October 29 | Hanshin Tigers − 0, Orix Buffaloes − 8 | Kyocera Dome Osaka | 3:09 | 33,584[15] |
| 3 | October 31 | Orix Buffaloes − 5, Hanshin Tigers − 4 | Koshien Stadium | 3:51 | 40,994[16] |
| 4 | November 1 | Orix Buffaloes − 3, Hanshin Tigers − 4 | Koshien Stadium | 4:06 | 41,050[17] |
| 5 | November 2 | Orix Buffaloes − 2, Hanshin Tigers − 6 | Koshien Stadium | 3:28 | 41,031[18] |
| 6 | November 4 | Hanshin Tigers − 1, Orix Buffaloes − 5 | Kyocera Dome Osaka | 3:01 | 33,633 |
| 7 | November 5 | Hanshin Tigers at Orix Buffaloes | Kyocera Dome Osaka | 6:30 pm (JST) | - |
Game summaries
Game 1
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | |||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hanshin | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 13 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Orix | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| WP: Shoki Murakami (1–0) LP: Yoshinobu Yamamoto (0–1) Attendance: 33,701 Boxscore | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The Orix Buffaloes Junior Team threw out the ceremonial first pitch.[19] Shoki Murakami was the starting pitcher for Hanshin, while Yoshinobu Yamamoto started for Orix. After four innings of a pitcher's duel, the Tigers' Teruaki Sato singled, stole second base, and advanced to third on a flyout. Ryo Watanabe then hit a run batted in (RBI) single to drive in Hanshin's first run. Watanabe and Seiya Kinami were driven in by Koji Chikamoto with a two-run triple later in the inning. Takumu Nakano capped off the scoring in the fifth by driving in Chikamoto with a RBI single.[20] The next inning, Hanshin struck again, first when Yusuke Oyama drew a leadoff walk and eventually scored on a RBI single by Kinami. The next batter, Seishiro Sakamoto, immediately hit a double to drive in Kinami and force Orix to make a pitching change. Nakano drove in another run off of Orix relief pitcher Nobuyoshi Yamada before the end of the inning.[21] Yamamoto left the game after 5+2⁄3 innings, allowing ten hits and giving up seven runs for the first time, a career worst.[22] Meanwhile, Murakami did not permit a baserunner in the first four innings, until allowing a double by Tomoya Mori to start the fifth inning. Murakami allowed no runs and two hits in seven innings to earn the win in Game 1.[20]
Game 2
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | |||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hanshin | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 3 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Orix | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | X | 8 | 12 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| WP: Hiroya Miyagi (1–0) LP: Yuki Nishi (0–1) Attendance: 33,584 Boxscore | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Actress Yuriko Yoshitaka threw out the ceremonial first pitch.[23] Hiroya Miyagi started Game 2 for Orix and Yuki Nishi started for Hanshin. Miyagi pitched six innings without allowing a run, giving up four hits and one walk. Nishi allowed a single to Taishi Hirooka and a RBI triple for Masahiro Nishino in the third inning. The next inning, Orix recorded walk followed by four consecutive singles off of Nishi and he was pulled from the game, allowing four runs in 3+2⁄3 innings. Marwin González entered the game as a pinch hitter with the bases loaded for Orix in the seventh inning and hit a three run double.[24] The Buffaloes tallied one last run on an error in the eighth.[25] Orix's relief pitchers completed the game without allowing another hit or a run.[24]
Game 3
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | |||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Orix | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 9 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Hanshin | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 10 | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| WP: Kohei Azuma (1–0) LP: Masashi Ito (0–1) Sv: Yoshihisa Hirano (1) Home runs: ORX: Yuma Tongu (1) HAN: None Attendance: 40,994 Boxscore | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Singer Sayaka Yamamoto performed the Japanese national anthem, "Kimigayo", before Game 3.[26] The Hanshin Tigers Junior Team threw out the ceremonial first pitch.[27] Kohei Azuma started for Orix and Masashi Ito started for Hanshin.[28]
The Tigers opened the scoring in the second inning after Yusuke Oyama singled to start the inning, reached third on single by Sheldon Neuse, and then scored on a Seishiro Sakamoto ground out. Yuma Tongu tied the game for Orix in the fourth inning when he hit a solo home run, the first home run hit by either team in the series. In the fifth inning, the first two Orix batters reached base and then Taishi Hirooka gave the Buffaloes the least when he hit a ground out to shortstop to score Kotaro Kurebayashi. Azuma then bunted to advance Hirooka to second base, but a throwing error by Ito left both runners safe. Yuma Mune then drove both runners in with a two-RBI double to give the Buffaloes a 4–1 lead. A sacrifice fly by Kenya Wakatsuki extended the Buffaloes' lead to 5–1 in the sixth inning.[29]
The Tigers attempted to mount a comeback in the seventh inning against Orix's relief pitchers when they loaded the bases on two hits and a walk. A groundout by Takumu Nakano that drove in one run followed by a two-run single by Shota Morishita brought Hanshin to within one run.[29] Orix then brought in pitcher Yuki Udagawa who was able to close out the inning without allowing another run.[30] The Buffaloes' brought in closer Yoshihisa Hirano to pitch a scoreless ninth inning to earn the save and preserve the win.[29] Azuna allowed one run to Hanshin in six innings pitched. Ito allowed four runs to Orix.[28]
Game 4
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| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | |||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Orix | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 12 | 3 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Hanshin | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1X | 4 | 8 | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| WP: Suguru Iwazaki (1–0) LP: Jacob Waguespack (0–1) Attendance: 41,050 Boxscore | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Rugby player Keita Inagaki threw out the ceremonial first pitch.[31] Sachiya Yamasaki started Game 4 for Orix while Hanshin started Hiroto Saiki.[32] The Tigers took an early lead in the first inning when Koji Chikamoto scored the first run of the game on an RBI double by Shota Morishita.[31] The Buffaloes responded the next inning with a triple by Yuma Tongu, who then scored on a Kotaro Kurebayashi RBI single. In the bottom half of the inning, Hanshin took the lead back. Seiya Kinami hit a two-out single and pitcher Saiki drew a walk. Chikamoto then drove in Kinami with an RBI single. The Tigers added one run to their lead in the fifth inning. Chikamoto started off the inning with his third hit of the night. He then advanced to second when Takumu Nakano reached base on a throwing error by Yamasaki. A fielder's choice by Morishita moved him to third where he was then able to score on another fielders choice by Yusuke Oyama.[32]
In the seventh inning, an error by Hanshin third baseman Teruaki Sato and a pinch-hit single by Leandro Cedeno gave Orix runners on first and second base. Keita Nakagawa moved the runners ahead with a sacrifice bunt and Yuma Mune hit a two-run RBI single to score both and tie the game 3–3. The Buffaloes threatened to take the lead the next inning when Yuya Oda hit a ground ball with runners on second and third with only one out. However, Kento Itohara fielded the ball and threw it to Tigers catcher Seishiro Sakamoto to tag the runner out at home plate. In the bottom of the ninth inning, Hanshin's Chikamoto walked and then made it to third base on two wild pitches thrown by Buffaloes reliever Jacob Waguespack against Nakano. The Buffaloes then intentionally walked Nakano and Morishita to load the bases. Yusuke Oyama then hit a walk-off RBI single to win the game for Hanshin 4–3.[32]
Game 5
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | |||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Orix | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 2 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Hanshin | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | X | 6 | 10 | 3 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| WP: Atsuki Yuasa (1–0) LP: Soichiro Yamazaki (0–1) Home runs: ORX: Marwin González (1) HAN: None Attendance: 41,031 Boxscore | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Daiki Tajima started Game 5 for Orix and pitched seven scoreless innnings. Marwin González hit a home run for Orix in the fourth inning and an error by Hanshin's Shōta Morishita allowed Orix to score a second run in the seventh inning. Hanshin scored six runs in the eighth inning against Orix, including a go-ahead two-run triple hit by Morishita.[33] Gonzalez became the fourth player ever to hit a home run in both the World Series and the Japan Series.
Game 6
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | |||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hanshin | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 9 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Orix | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | X | 5 | 8 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| WP: Yoshinobu Yamamoto (1–1) LP: Shoki Murakami (1–1) Home runs: HAN: Sheldon Neuse (1) ORX: Kotaro Kurebayashi (1), Yuma Tongu (2) Attendance: 33,633 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
In Game 6, Yamamoto started for Orix and Murakami started for Hanshin in a rematch of Game 1. Yamamoto threw a complete game for Orix, striking out 14 Tigers, in a 5–1 victory. He set a record for strikeouts in a Japan Series game, previously shared by Kimiyasu Kudo and Yu Darvish at 13. Yamamoto allowed a solo home run to Sheldon Neuse in the second inning, while Murakami allowed four runs in five innings pitched.[34]
Game 7
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | |||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hanshin | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | - | - | - | - | 6 | 8 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Orix | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | - | - | - | - | 0 | 2 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Starting pitchers: HAN: Koyo Aoyagi (0–0) ORX: Hiroya Miyagi (1–0) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
See also
References
- ^ "Tigers clinch first Central League pennant since 2005". The Japan Times. Kyodo News. September 14, 2023. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
- ^ a b c Coskrey, Jason (September 15, 2023). "Akinobu Okada pushed right buttons to guide Tigers to CL pennant". The Japan Times. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
- ^ "Tigers sweep past Carp on way to first Japan Series in nine years". The Japan Times. Kyodo News. October 20, 2023. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
- ^ "Buffaloes clinch 3rd straight PL title despite loss of Yoshida". The Asahi Shimbun. September 21, 2023. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
- ^ "Buffaloes down Marines to set up all-Kansai Japan Series". The Japan Times. Kyodo News. October 21, 2023.
- ^ a b c d e Coskrey, Jason (October 27, 2023). "Kansai superiority at stake in this year's Japan Series". The Japan Times. Retrieved October 31, 2023.
- ^ "59年ぶりの関西対決は「なんば線シリーズ」 ファンもノリノリ史上３番目の近隣決戦" [The first Kansai showdown in 59 years is the "Namba Line Series", and fans are in excited as it's the third neighborhood duel in history]. Sankei Shimbun (in Japanese). October 28, 2023. Retrieved October 31, 2023.
- ^ Tansey, Joel (October 30, 2023). "In the Japan Series, it's a tale of two fanbases". The Japan Times. Retrieved November 1, 2023.
- ^ Watanabe, Nanami; Kaneko, Tomohiko (September 15, 2023). "Hanshin Tigers' crown could be big win-win for nation's economy". The Asahi Shimbun. Retrieved November 1, 2023.
- ^ a b "Baseball: Tigers' speed takes on Buffaloes' pitching in Japan Series". The Mainichi. Kyodo News. October 26, 2023. Retrieved October 31, 2023.
- ^ Coskrey, Jason (November 3, 2023). "Could the Tigers' curse be over, once and for all?". The Japan Times. Retrieved November 4, 2023.
- ^ "2023 Central League Standings". Nippon Professional Baseball. Retrieved October 31, 2023.
- ^ Graczky, Wayne (November 1, 2014). "NPB's quirky playoff rules recipe for confusion". The Japan Times. Retrieved October 31, 2023.
- ^ "Saturday, October 28, 2023". Nippon Professional Baseball. Retrieved October 29, 2023.
- ^ "Sunday, October 29, 2023". Nippon Professional Baseball. Retrieved October 31, 2023.
- ^ "Tuesday, October 31, 2023". Nippon Professional Baseball. Retrieved November 1, 2023.
- ^ "Wednesday, November 1, 2023". Nippon Professional Baseball. Retrieved November 1, 2023.
- ^ "Thursday, November 2, 2023". Nippon Professional Baseball. Retrieved November 3, 2023.
- ^ "日本シリーズ、29日の第２戦は吉高由里子が始球式に登場 第１戦はオリックス・ジュニア" [Japan Series, Yuriko Yoshitaka to throw out the first pitch in Game 2 on the 29th, Game 1 will be Orix Junior]. Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). October 26, 2023. Retrieved November 4, 2023.
- ^ a b Allen, Jim (October 28, 2023). "Baseball: Murakami, Tigers crush Yamamoto in Japan Series opener". Kyodo News. Retrieved November 4, 2023.
- ^ "【第1戦】日本シリーズ 阪神が快勝 オリックス山本から大量点" [[Game 1] Japan Series Hanshin wins comfortably, scores a lot of runs off Orix's Yamamoto]. NHK. October 29, 2023. Retrieved November 4, 2023.
- ^ Coskrey, Jason (October 28, 2023). "Tigers take bite out of Yoshinobu Yamamoto in Japan Series opener". The Japan Times. Retrieved November 4, 2023.
- ^ "【第2戦】日本シリーズ オリックスが阪神に快勝 1勝1敗に" [[Game 2] Japan Series Orix wins comfortably over Hanshin, moves to 1–1]. NHK. October 30, 2023. Retrieved November 4, 2023.
- ^ a b Allen, Jim (October 29, 2023). "Baseball: Hiroya Miyagi pitches Buffaloes past Tigers to tie Japan Series". Kyodo News. Retrieved November 4, 2023.
- ^ Coskrey, Jason (October 29, 2023). "Buffaloes bounce back against Tigers to pull even in Japan Series". The Japan Times. Retrieved November 4, 2023.
- ^ "【阪神】元NMBの山本彩が「君が代」独唱 白い衣装で美声響かせる「ほっとしています」" [[Hanshin] Former NMB member Sayaka Yamamoto sings "Kimigayo" solo in a white dress, her beautiful voice resonates: "I'm relieved"]. Nikkan Sports. October 31, 2023. Retrieved November 4, 2023.
- ^ "【第3戦】日本シリーズ 阪神粘るも オリックス1点差逃げ切る" [[Game 3] Japan Series Hanshin lingers, but Orix narrowly wins by one]. NHK. November 1, 2023. Retrieved November 4, 2023.
- ^ a b "Baseball: Mune, Tongu lead Buffaloes to 2–1 Japan Series lead". Kyodo News.
- ^ a b c Coskrey, Jason (October 31, 2023). "Buffaloes edge Tigers in Game 3 of Japan Series". The Japan Times. Retrieved November 4, 2023.
- ^ Coskrey, Jason (November 1, 2023). "How Yuki Udagawa's steely nerves quieted Koshien's raucous crowd". The Japan Times. Retrieved November 4, 2023.
- ^ a b "【第4戦】日本シリーズ 阪神 オリックスにサヨナラ勝ち" [[Game 4] Japan Series Hanshin wins against Orix with a sayonara victory]. NHK. November 2, 2023. Retrieved November 4, 2023.
- ^ a b c Coskrey, Jason (November 1, 2023). "Yusuke Oyama lifts Tigers to thrilling win to even Japan Series". The Japan Times. Retrieved November 4, 2023.
- ^ NEWS, KYODO. "Baseball: Shota Morishita clutch as Tigers rally for 3-2 Japan Series lead". Kyodo News+.
- ^ Coskrey, Jason (November 4, 2023). "Ace Yoshinobu Yamamoto helps Buffaloes force Game 7 in Japan Series". The Japan Times.