Tomoya Masaki Walk-Off Homer Puts SoftBank One Win From Japan Series Title
Tomoya Masaki hit a walk-off homer in the 10th as SoftBank beat DeNA 2-1 in Japan Series Game 3, taking a 3-0 lead and moving one win from the title.
World Baseball News Editorial Team , 2 min read 
Tomoya Masaki hit a walk-off solo home run in the 10th inning on Tuesday, October 27, lifting the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks to a 2-1 victory over the Yokohama DeNA BayStars in Game 3 of the 2026 Japan Series. The win at Mizuho PayPay Dome in Fukuoka gave SoftBank a commanding 3-0 lead and moved the club within one victory of another Japanese championship.
It was the third straight extra-inning finish of the series, and the third time the Hawks found the decisive hit. DeNA had led 1-0 entering the bottom of the ninth, but could not hold on.
Masaki ends another extra-inning thriller
With one out and nobody on in the bottom of the 10th, Masaki drove a 2-0 pitch from José Ruiz over the left-field wall to end the game. The leadoff hitter finished 2-for-3 with the winning RBI, and the home run was his second of the Japan Series.
SoftBank had forced extra innings with two outs in the ninth. Taisei Makihara singled to right field to bring home pinch-runner Itsua Ihine from second base, tying the score at 1-1 and erasing the lead DeNA had protected for four innings.
DeNA’s lone run came in the fifth. Masaki Mimori reached on a force play, stole second and scored when catcher Takeru Furuichi singled to center. The BayStars then held the Hawks scoreless through eight innings before the late comeback.
Hawks take a 3-0 lead despite another close game
SoftBank starter Haru Matsumoto allowed one run over six innings, keeping the game close while the lineup struggled to convert early chances. The Hawks eventually finished with 10 hits to DeNA’s seven. Kazuki Sugiyama earned the win in relief, while Ruiz took the loss.
The final swing continued a remarkable run of late-game drama. SoftBank won Game 1 by a 3-1 score in 11 innings, then took Game 2 by a 4-3 score in 10 innings. Masaki also homered in the second game, although Yuto Kawamura supplied the winning shot that night.
Tuesday’s result was especially painful for DeNA, which had come within three outs of cutting the series deficit in half. Instead, the BayStars must now win four straight games to claim the title.
Game 4 is scheduled for Wednesday, October 28, at Mizuho PayPay Dome. A SoftBank victory would end the best-of-seven series and secure the championship on home soil.
