This article documents a current Central League Climax 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 2024) |
The 2024 Central League Climax Series is a set of two consecutive playoff series in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). The first stage began on October 12 and the final stage will conclude by October 21. The first stage was a best-of-three series between the second-place Hanshin Tigers and the third-place Yokohama DeNA BayStars. The final stage is a best-of-six against the Yomiuri Giants, the Central League champion, being awarded a one-win advantage against the BayStars, the eventual winner of the first stage. The Climax Series winner will advance to the 2024 Japan Series to compete against the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks, the winner of the 2024 Pacific League Climax Series.
| 2024 Central League Climax Series | |||||||||||||
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| First stage | |||||||||||||
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| Dates | October 12–13 | ||||||||||||
| Final stage | |||||||||||||
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| Dates | October 16–21 | ||||||||||||
Background
editFor the fourth year in a row, JERA is sponsoring the naming rights for the Central League Climax Series, and it is officially known as the "2024 JERA Climax Series SE".[1]
First stage
editIntra-league teams play 25 games against each other during the regular season. The Tigers narrowly won the season season series against the BayStars 13–11–1 and finished 4½ games ahead of DeNA.[2] The two teams have only met in the postseason three times prior to this year, with the Tigers winning two of the three series. A best-of-three series, all games in the first stage were hosted by Hanshin, the higher seeded team, at their home ballpark, Koshien Stadium.[3]
Summary
editDeNA won the series, 2–0.
| Game | Date | Score | Location | Time | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | October 12 | Yokohama DeNA BayStars – 3, Hanshin Tigers – 1 | Koshien Stadium | 3:19 | 42,642[4] |
| 2 | October 13 | Yokohama DeNA BayStars – 10, Hanshin Tigers – 3 | Koshien Stadium | 3:35 | 42,646[5] |
Game 1
edit
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | |||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DeNA | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 10 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Hanshin | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| WP: Yasuaki Yamasaki (1–0) LP: Hiroto Saiki (0–1) Sv: Kohei Morihara (1) Attendance: 42,642 Boxscore | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Katsuki Azuma was the Game 1 starting pitcher for DeNA, while Hiroto Saiki started for Hanshin. The BayStars loaded the bases against Saiki with only one out in the third inning and Masayuki Kuwahara drove in a run with an infield ground ball to give them a 1–0 lead.[6] Azuma reached base on a single down the left field line in the top of the fourth inning, however he hurt his left hamstring while running the bases and was removed from the game after pitching through the bottom of the inning.[7] The injury ensured that he would not be availble to play for the entirity of the final stage.[8] Hanshin's Saiki left the game after the fifth inning after giving up seven hits and one run. Relief pitcher Takuma Kirishiki was brought in to replace him and pitched a scoreless sixth inning.[7] The next inning, he recorded one out before giving up two consecutive hits and was replaced by Daichi Ishii. With runners on first and third bases, Ishii allowed Tyler Austin to double and drive in both DeNA runners, widening the BayStars' lead to 3–0.[7][9]
After Azuma's exit, DeNA used five relief pitchers to close out the remainder of the game.[6] They held the Tigers to only one run in five innings to secure the win. Hanshin's lone run came in the ninth inning from a single by Seiya Kinami off of DeNA closer Kohei Morihara.[7][6]
Game 2
edit
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | |||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DeNA | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 15 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Hanshin | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 8 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| WP: Andre Jackson (1–0) LP: Haruto Takahashi (0–1) Home runs: DNA: Mike Ford (1), Keita Sano (1) HAN: Shota Morishita (1), Fumihito Haraguchi (1) Attendance: 42,646 Boxscore | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Andre Jackson started Game 2 for DeNA and Haruto Takahashi started for Hanshin. The Tigers took the lead early after Jackson gave up a solo home run to Shota Morishita in the first inning.[8] Jackson wouldn't allow another run in his 5+2⁄3-inning outing in which he struck out nine batters.[10] Takahashi, however, allowed the BayStars to score four runs in the second inning. Three of the runs came via a Yasutaka Tobashira double after three consecutive hits loaded the bases. Shugo Maki later singled that inning to drive Tobashira home, extending their lead to 4–1. DeNA tacked on six more runs in the seventh inning when pinch hitter Mike Ford hit a solo home run followed by a three-run home run by Keita Sano later in the inning, putting the game out of reach for Hanshin and securing DeNA's advancement to the final stage.[8]
Final stage
editAs winners of the Central League, the Yomiuri Giants advanced directly to the final stage of the Climax Series to host the BayStars, the eventual winner of the first stage. In the season series, Yomiuri came out on top 16–8–1 and finished 8 games ahead of DeNA.[2] The two teams had only played each other once previously in the Climax Series, the first stage of the 2016 CLCS, a series in which the BayStars won two games to one. For the final stage, the CL champion Giants were awarded a one-game advantage over the BayStars. A best-of-six series, all games in the final stage were hosted by Yomiuri, the higher seeded team, at their home ballpark, Tokyo Dome.[3]
Summary
editDeNA leads the series, 3–2*.
| Game | Date | Score | Location | Time | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | October 16 | Yokohama DeNA BayStars – 2, Yomiuri Giants – 0 | Tokyo Dome | 3:05 | 42,076[11] |
| 2 | October 17 | Yokohama DeNA BayStars – 2, Yomiuri Giants – 1 | Tokyo Dome | 2:31 | 42,006[12] |
| 3 | October 18 | Yokohama DeNA BayStars – 2, Yomiuri Giants – 1 | Tokyo Dome | 3:06 | 42,180[13] |
| 4 | October 19 | Yokohama DeNA BayStars – 1, Yomiuri Giants – 4 | Tokyo Dome | 2:54 | 42,222 |
| 5 | October 20 | Yokohama DeNA BayStars at Yomiuri Giants | Tokyo Dome | 6:00 pm (JST) | - |
| 6 | October 21† | Yokohama DeNA BayStars at Yomiuri Giants | Tokyo Dome | 6:00 pm (JST) | - |
- * The Central League regular season champion is given a one-game advantage in the final stage.
- † If necessary
Game 1
edit
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | |||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DeNA | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Yomiuri | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| WP: Anthony Kay (1–0) LP: Shosei Togo (0–1) Sv: Hiromu Ise (1) Home runs: DNA: Keita Sano (1) YOM: None Attendance: 42,076 Boxscore | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Olympic gold medalist Greco-Roman wrestler Nao Kusaka threw out the ceremonial first pitch.[14] Anthony Kay was the starting pitcher for DeNA, while Shosei Togo started for Yomiuri. In the first inning, Kay issued two walks to Giants batters, but made it through the inning unscathed. He went on to pitch six innings without allowing a run and gave up only one hit. The BayStars opened the scoring when Keita Sano led off the fourth inning with a solo home run. In the seventh inning, Togo was replaced by Yuhei Takanashi after he allowed runners on first and third bases with only one out. Takanashi promptly gave up an RBI single to pinch hitter Yoshi Tsutsugo to make the score 2–0. Yomiuri had scoring opportunities in the fifth and seventh innings with two men on with two outs, however they unable to capitalize on either opportunity. DeNA's relief pitchers were able to keep the Giants scoreless for the remainder of the game, allowing the BayStars to tie the series.[15]
Game 2
edit
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | |||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DeNA | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Yomiuri | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| WP: Shinichi Ohnuki (1–0) LP: Tomoyuki Sugano (0–1) Sv: Kohei Morihara (1) Home runs: DNA: Tyler Austin (1) YOM: None Attendance: 42,006 Boxscore | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Paralympics bronze medalist swimmer Ayano Tsujiuchi threw out the ceremonial first pitch.[16] Shinichi Ohnuki started Game 2 for DeNA and Tomoyuki Sugano started for Yomiuri. The game was scoreless through four innings until a leadoff double by DeNA was driven in by Keito Mori in the fifth inning to give them the lead.[17] The following inning, the Giants tied the game after Louis Okoye doubled and went on to score on a RBI single by Kazuma Okamoto. The BayStars quickly retook the lead when Tyler Austin led off the seventh with a solo home run off of Sugano, which would prove to be game-winning. Ultimately, Sugano allowed two runs on six hits and a walk over seven innings. Ohnuki allowed just one run on five hits and a walk while striking out seven over 6+2⁄3 innings.[18]
Game 3
edit
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | |||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DeNA | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Yomiuri | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| WP: Chihaya Sasaki (1–0) LP: Yuji Akahoshi (0–1) Sv: Kohei Morihara (2) Home runs: DNA: Tyler Austin (2) YOM: Kazuma Okamoto (1) Attendance: 42,180 Boxscore | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Olympic gold medalist judoka Natsumi Tsunoda threw out the ceremonial first pitch.[19] Teruki Yoshino started for DeNA and Foster Griffin started for Yomiuri.[20] Kazuma Okamoto hit a solo home run for the Giants in the second inning, giving Yomiuri their first run and lead of the series. They threatened to add to their lead in the third inning when Takumi Ohshiro came to the plate with the bases loaded and only one out. Ohshiro hit a ground ball that was fielded by a diving Shugo Maki, however, who turned it into an inning-ending double play. DeNA's Austin then hit a solo home run in the fourth inning to tie the game 1–1. The following inning, the BayStars had a runner on third base and two outs. Yuji Akahoshi, the Giants' second pitcher of the game, threw a wild pitch that allowed the runner to score, giving DeNA the lead.[21] Yoshino gave up the one run in a short, three-inning outing, but DeNA's four relief pitchers were able to keep the Giants from scoring further.[22]
Game 4
edit| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | |||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DeNA | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Yomiuri | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | X | 4 | 6 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| WP: Kyle Keller (1–0) LP: Andre Jackson (0–1) Sv: Taisei Ota (1) Home runs: DNA: Yasutaka Tobashira (1) YOM: None Attendance: 42,222 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Game 5
edit| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | |||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DeNA | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Yomiuri | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Starting pitchers: DNA: Haruhiro Hamaguchi (0–0) YOM: Iori Yamasaki (0–0) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
References
edit- ^ "「2024 JERA クライマックスシリーズ セ」冠協賛社のお知らせ" [Announcement of the title sponsor of the "2024 JERA Climax Series Central"] (in Japanese). Nippon Professional Baseball. September 12, 2024. Retrieved October 3, 2024.
- ^ a b "2024 Central League Standings". Nippon Professional Baseball. Retrieved October 17, 2023.
- ^ a b "セ・リーグ、CS開催概要発表 １位巨人には１勝のアドバンテージ、予告先発投手制度を実施" [Central League announces details of CS, with first-place Giants given one-win advantage and starting pitcher system announced in advance]. Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). October 1, 2024. Retrieved October 18, 2024.
- ^ "Saturday, October 12, 2024". Nippon Professional Baseball. Retrieved October 12, 2024.
- ^ "Sunday, October 13, 2024". Nippon Professional Baseball. Retrieved October 13, 2024.
- ^ a b c "DeNA オースティン活躍で王手 プロ野球 CSファーストステージ" [DeNA Austin's performance puts them in the lead in the first stage of the professional baseball CS] (in Japanese). NHK. October 12, 2024. Retrieved October 15, 2024.
- ^ a b c d "ＤｅＮＡ、オースティンの２点タイムリーなどで競り勝つ…阪神は木浪聖也の適時打のみ" [DeNA wins the game with a two-run hit by Austin...Hanshin only gets a timely hit by Seiya Kinami]. Yomiuri Shimbun (in Japanese). October 12, 2024. Retrieved October 15, 2024.
- ^ a b c "DeNA CSファーストステージ2連勝ファイナルステージ進出決める" [DeNA wins two straight games in the CS first stage and advances to the final stage] (in Japanese). NHK. October 13, 2024. Retrieved October 15, 2024.
- ^ "ＤｅＮＡ・オースティン、２点タイムリーでリード広げる…阪神に逃げ切りＣＳ初戦を取る" [DeNA Austin extends lead with 2-run hit...Wins first CS game against Hanshin]. Yomiuri Shimbun (in Japanese). October 12, 2024. Retrieved October 15, 2024.
- ^ "Baseball: BayStars eliminate Tigers, reach Climax Series final stage". The Mainichi. Kyodo News. October 13, 2023. Retrieved October 15, 2024.
- ^ "Wednesday, October 16, 2024". Nippon Professional Baseball. Retrieved October 16, 2024.
- ^ "Thursday, October 17, 2024". Nippon Professional Baseball. Retrieved October 17, 2024.
- ^ "Friday, October 18, 2024". Nippon Professional Baseball. Retrieved October 18, 2024.
- ^ "レスリング日下尚が始球式「軸足が震えていたので全然駄目」" [Wrestler Nao Kusaka throws the ceremonial first pitch: "My supporting leg was shaking so I couldn't throw it at all"]. Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). October 16, 2024. Retrieved October 16, 2024.
- ^ "DeNAが巨人に先勝 対戦成績を1勝1敗に CSファイナル" [DeNA wins first against Giants, bringing their head-to-head record to 1–1 in the CS final] (in Japanese). NHK. October 16, 2024. Retrieved October 16, 2024.
- ^ "パリ・パラ水泳銅の辻内彩野、始球式に登場「何とか届いたので安心しました」" [Paris Paralympic Swimming Bronze Medal Winner Ayano Tsujiuchi Appears at First Pitch Ceremony: "I'm relieved that it arrived somehow"]. Sankei Sports (in Japanese). October 17, 2024. Retrieved October 17, 2024.
- ^ "DeNAが巨人に競り勝ち 2勝1敗に CSファイナル" [DeNA beats Giants to finish 2-1 in CS final] (in Japanese). NHK. October 17, 2024. Retrieved October 17, 2024.
- ^ "Baseball: Tyler Austin powers BayStars past Giants in CL Climax Series". The Mainichi. Kyodo News. October 17, 2023. Retrieved October 17, 2024.
- ^ "パリ五輪柔道女子金・角田夏実、セCSで始球式 熱烈G党「心臓の鼓動が聞こえるくらい緊張しました」" [Paris Olympics judo women's gold medalist Natsumi Tsunoda throws the ceremonial first pitch at the Central League CS, passionate Giants fan: "I was so nervous I could hear my heart beating"]. Sankei Sports (in Japanese). October 18, 2024. Retrieved October 19, 2024.
- ^ "巨人の菅野が未体験の「日本一」…「最終戦までもつれたら、僕も投げる準備をする」" [Giants' Sugano's unexperienced "Japan Series champion"... "If it goes to the final game, I'll prepare to pitch too"]. Yomiuri Shimbun (in Japanese). October 18, 2024. Retrieved October 19, 2024.
- ^ "DeNAが日本シリーズ進出に王手 巨人に3連勝 CSファイナル" [DeNA is on the brink of advancing to the Japan Series, winning three straight games against the Giants in the CS final] (in Japanese). NHK. October 18, 2024. Retrieved October 19, 2024.
- ^ "巨人、岡本和真のソロでＣＳ初先取点を挙げたが追加点なく３連敗…ＤｅＮＡが日本シリーズ進出に王手" [Giants score first run of CS with Kazuma Okamoto's solo, but fail to score any more and lose three games in a row... DeNA is on the brink of advancing to the Japan Series]. Yomiuri Shimbun (in Japanese). October 18, 2024. Retrieved October 19, 2024.