2016 Japan Series

October 2016 2016 Japan Series.png Japan 2016 Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters (4) Hideki Kuriyama 87–53–3 (.621), 2.5 GA Hiroshima Toyo Carp (2) Koichi Ogata 89–52–2 (.631), 17.5 GA October 22–29 Brandon Laird (Hokkaido) Brad Eldred (Hiroshima) TBS (Games 1, 4)Fuji TV (Game 2)TV Asahi (Games 3, 5)Nippon TV (Game 6) The 2016 Japan Series was the 67th edition of Nippon Professional Baseball's postseason championship series for the 2016 season. The Hiroshima Toyo Carp, champions of the Central League, played the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters, champions of the Pacific League,http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2016/10/18/baseball/japanese-baseball/carp-pitcher-kuroda-announces-decision-retire-japan-series/ Carp pitcher Kuroda announces decision to retire after Japan Series October 18, 2016 October 18, 2016 Japan Times Onlinehttps://www.japantoday.com/category/sports/view/fighters-beat-hawks-7-4-to-reach-japan-series Fighters beat Hawks 7–4 to reach Japan Series ‹ Japan Today: Japan News and Discussion October 18, 2016 October 19, 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20161019075618/https://www.japantoday.com/category/sports/view/fighters-beat-hawks-7-4-to-reach-japan-series dead in a best-of-seven series beginning on October 22. The Japan Series was sponsored by the Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (SMBC) and was officially known as the SMBC Nippon Series 2016. The Fighters defeated the Carp in six games. Hiroshima took the first two games, and Hokkaido won the next four games to take the series. Hokkaido's Brandon Laird won the Japan Series Most Valuable Player Award, and Hiroshima's Brad Eldred won the Fighting Spirit Award, given to the best player on the losing team; it was the first time two foreign players won both awards. Anthony Bass, Sho Nakata, and Haruki Nishikawa won outstanding player honors. Climax Series 2016 Central League Climax Series 2016 Pacific League Climax Series 200 First Stage Final Stage Japan Series Central League Pacific League 2 Yomiuri Giants 1 3 Yokohama DeNA BayStars 2 2 Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks 2 3 Chiba Lotte Marines 0 1 Hiroshima Toyo Carp 4 3 Yokohama DeNA BayStars 1 1 Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters 4 2 Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks 2 CL1 Hiroshima Toyo Carp 2 PL1 Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters 4 Series notes The Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters defeated the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks in the Pacific League Climax Series, four games to two. Sho Nakata was named the most valuable player of the series.http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2016/10/16/baseball/japanese-baseball/never-say-die-attitude-takes-fighters-japan-series/ Never-say-die attitude takes Fighters to Japan Series The Japan Times October 16, 2016 October 19, 2016 The Fighters last won the Japan Series in 2006. They lost the Japan Series in 2007, 2009, and 2012. The Hiroshima Toyo Carp defeated the Yokohama DeNA BayStars in the Central League Climax Series, four games to one. Kosuke Tanaka was named the series' most valuable player. Hiroshima had not appeared in the Japan Series since 1991.http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2016/10/15/baseball/japanese-baseball/carp-hold-off-baystars-advance-japan-series-first-time-since-1991/ Carp hold off BayStars, advance to Japan Series for first time since 1991 October 15, 2016 October 18, 2016 Japan Times Online Hiroshima pitcher Hiroki Kuroda announced that he would retire following the series.http://www.nj.com/yankees/index.ssf/2016/10/ex-yankees_pitcher_hiroki_kuroda_to_retire_wants_b.html Ex-Yankees pitcher Hiroki Kuroda to retire, wants beer shower NJ.com October 18, 2016 October 18, 2016 Summary Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters 4–2 October 22 Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters – 1, Hiroshima Toyo Carp – 5 Mazda Stadium 3:39 30,619 http://npb.jp/bis/eng/2016/games/s2016102201818.html Saturday, October 22, 2016 Nippon Professional Baseball October 24, 2016 October 23 Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters – 1, Hiroshima Toyo Carp – 5 Mazda Stadium 3:18 30,638 http://npb.jp/bis/eng/2016/games/s2016102301819.html Sunday, October 23, 2016 Nippon Professional Baseball October 31, 2016 October 25 Hiroshima Toyo Carp – 3, Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters – 4 (10) Sapporo Dome 3:51 40,503 http://npb.jp/bis/eng/2016/games/s2016102501820.html Tuesday, October 25, 2016 Nippon Professional Baseball October 31, 2016 October 26 Hiroshima Toyo Carp – 1, Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters – 3 Sapporo Dome 3:30 40,599 http://npb.jp/bis/eng/2016/games/s2016102601821.html Wednesday, October 26, 2016 Nippon Professional Baseball October 31, 2016 October 27 Hiroshima Toyo Carp – 1, Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters – 5 Sapporo Dome 3:32 40,633 http://npb.jp/bis/eng/2016/games/s2016102701822.html Thursday, October 27, 2016 Nippon Professional Baseball October 31, 2016 October 29 Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters – 10, Hiroshima Toyo Carp – 4 Mazda Stadium 4:01 30,693 http://npb.jp/bis/eng/2016/games/s2016102901823.html Saturday, October 29, 2016 Nippon Professional Baseball October 31, 2016 Game summaries Game 1 right|thumb|upright|Brad Eldred hit home runs for Hiroshima in Games 1, 2, and 3 Saturday, October 22, 2016, 6:35 pm (JST) Mazda Zoom-Zoom Stadium Hiroshima in Hiroshima, Hiroshima Prefecture Nippon-Ham NHF 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 10 0 Hiroshima HIR 0 1 0 2 0 0 2 0 X 5 7 0 Kris Johnson (1–0) Shohei Ohtani (0–1) Ryuhei Matsuyama (1), Brad Eldred (1) Brandon Laird (1) 30,619 http://npb.jp/bis/eng/2016/games/s2016102201818.html Kris Johnson, the Carp's starting pitcher, allowed one run in 6 2 3 innings pitched, while Hokkaido's Shohei Ohtani allowed three runs in six innings. Hiroshima's Ryuhei Matsuyama and Brad Eldred both hit home runs off of Ohtani in the fourth inning, while Hokkaido's Brandon Laird hit a home run in the seventh inning. Hiroshima responded in the seventh inning with a run batted in (RBI) single by Yoshihiro Maru and a RBI sacrifice fly by Eldred.http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2016/10/23/baseball/japanese-baseball/carp-capitalize-big-plays-stellar-pitching-beat-fighters-game-1/ Carp capitalize on big plays, stellar pitching to beat Fighters in Game 1 Jason Coskrey The Japan Times October 23, 2016 October 24, 2016 Game 2 right|thumb|upright|Yusuke Nomura earned the win for Hiroshima in Game 2 Sunday, October 23, 2016, 6:34 pm (JST) Mazda Zoom-Zoom Stadium Hiroshima in Hiroshima, Hiroshima Prefecture Nippon-Ham NHF 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 4 1 Hiroshima HIR 0 1 0 0 0 4 0 0 X 5 7 1 Yusuke Nomura (1–0) Hirotoshi Masui (0–1) Brad Eldred (2) 30,638 http://npb.jp/bis/eng/2016/games/s2016102301819.html Yui Kamiji threw the ceremonial first pitch.https://www.japantoday.com/category/sports/view/carp-take-2-0-lead-over-fighters-in-japan-series Carp take 2–0 lead over Fighters in Japan Series Japan Today October 24, 2016 October 24, 2016 October 25, 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20161025045814/https://www.japantoday.com/category/sports/view/carp-take-2-0-lead-over-fighters-in-japan-series dead The Carp broke the game open with a four-run sixth inning, which included Eldred's second home run of the series. Yusuke Nomura, who led the Central League with 16 wins during the regular season, allowed one unearned run in six innings pitched for Hiroshima.http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2016/10/23/baseball/japanese-baseball/carp-sink-fighters-take-2-0-japan-series-lead/#.WA52D-ArJdg Carp sink Fighters to take 2–0 Japan Series lead Jason Coskrey The Japan Times October 23, 2016 October 24, 2016 Game 3 right|upright|thumb|Shohei Ohtani drove in the game-winning run in Game 3 Tuesday, October 25, 2016, 6:33 pm (JST) Sapporo Dome in Sapporo, Hokkaido Hiroshima HIR 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 3 8 1 Nippon-Ham NHF 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 1 4 6 0 Anthony Bass (1–0) Daichi Osera (0–1) Brad Eldred (3) 40,503 http://npb.jp/bis/eng/2016/games/s2016102501820.html Kuroda allowed one run in 5 2 3 innings for the Carp, leaving the game due to a leg injury. Eldred hit a two-run home run, his third of the series. Hokkaido took the lead with a two RBI double by Sho Nakata in the eighth inning, and Tomohiro Abe tied the game for Hiroshima with an RBI single in the ninth inning. Ohtani, playing as Hokkaido's designated hitter, hit two doubles earlier in the game and drove in the game-winning run with an RBI single in the tenth inning, scoring Haruki Nishikawa.http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2016/10/26/baseball/japanese-baseball/otani-delivers-game-winning-single-10th-fighters-prevail-game-3/ Otani delivers game-winning single in 10th as Fighters prevail in Game 3 Jason Coskrey The Japan Times October 26, 2016 October 26, 2016 Game 4 right|upright|thumb|Brandon Laird hit the game-winning home run in Game 4 Wednesday, October 26, 2016, 6:31 pm (JST) Sapporo Dome in Sapporo, Hokkaido Hiroshima HIR 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 6 1 Nippon-Ham NHF 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 2 X 3 5 1 Keisuke Tanimoto (1–0) Jay Jackson (0–1) Naoki Miyanishi (1) Sho Nakata (1), Brandon Laird (2) 40,599 http://npb.jp/bis/eng/2016/games/s2016102601821.html Hiroshima took a 1–0 lead in the fourth inning, when Takahiro Arai scored on an error committed by Kensuke Kondo. Hokkaido's Sho Nakata hit a home run to tie the game in the sixth inning. Brandon Laird broke the tie with a two-run home run in the eighth inning for Hokkaido. Hiroshima had the bases loaded in the ninth inning, but Naoki Miyanishi recorded the save by striking out Yoshihiro Maru.http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2016/10/27/baseball/japanese-baseball/laird-sends-fighters-past-carp-tie-japan-series/ Laird sends Fighters past Carp to tie Japan Series Jason Coskrey The Japan Times October 27, 2016 October 27, 2016 Game 5 right|upright|thumb|Haruki Nishikawa hit a walk-off grand slam in the ninth inning of Game 5. Thursday, October 27, 2016, 6:03 pm (JST) Sapporo Dome in Sapporo, Hokkaido Hiroshima HIR 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 7 0 Nippon-Ham NHF 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 4 5 7 0 Anthony Bass (2–0) Shota Nakazaki (0–1) Haruki Nishikawa 40,633 http://npb.jp/bis/eng/2016/games/s2016102701822.html Johnson started Game 5 for Hiroshima, while Takayuki Kato started for Hokkaido. Seiya Suzuki had an RBI single in the first inning for Hiroshima. Kato failed to complete the second inning, and Luis Mendoza threw 5 2 3 scoreless innings for the Fighters. Johnson did not allow a run in six innings pitched. Takuya Nakashima had an RBI single to tie the game for Hokkaido in the seventh inning. Nishikawa hit a walk-off grand slam in the bottom of the ninth inning for Hokkaido.http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2016/10/27/baseball/japanese-baseball/late-game-heroics-propel-fighters-brink-japan-series-title/ Late-game heroics propel Fighters to brink of Japan Series title: Haruki Nishikawa slugs game-winning grand slam in ninth inning Jason Coskrey The Japan Times October 27, 2016 October 27, 2016 Game 6 right|upright|thumb|Sho Nakata earned outstanding player honors. Saturday, October 29, 2016, 6:33 pm (JST) Mazda Zoom-Zoom Stadium Hiroshima in Hiroshima, Hiroshima Prefecture Nippon-Ham NHF 1 0 0 3 0 0 0 6 0 10 12 2 Hiroshima HIR 0 2 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 4 7 1 Anthony Bass (3–0) Jay Jackson (0–2) Yoshihiro Maru (1) Brandon Laird (3) 30,693 http://npb.jp/bis/eng/2016/games/s2016102901823.html With the game tied 4–4 in the eighth inning, Nakata drew a bases loaded walk, Anthony Bass hit an RBI single, and Laird hit a grand slam. Laird, who hit three home runs in the series, won the Japan Series Most Valuable Player Award, while Eldred won the Fighting Spirit Award, given to the best player on the losing team. Bass, Nakata, and Nishikawa earned outstanding player honors for the series.http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2016/10/30/baseball/japanese-baseball/fighters-wrap-japan-series-title-dramatic-eighth-inning-fireworks/ Fighters wrap up Japan Series title with dramatic eighth-inning fireworks Jason Coskrey The Japan Times October 29, 2016 October 29, 2016https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/2016/10/29/former-yankee-laird-leads-nippon-ham-to-japan-series-title/92948436/ Former Yankee Laird leads Nippon Ham to Japan Series title Associated Press USA Today October 29, 2016 October 29, 2016 See also 2016 Korean Series 2016 World Series References 30em Baseball Japan 2016 Category:2016 Nippon Professional Baseball season Category:October 2016 sports events in Japan Category:Hiroshima Toyo Carp postseason Category:Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters postseason