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SoftBank Hawks, Yakult Swallows play in Game 2 of Japan Series

FUKUOKA, Oct. 25 Kyodo - Yakult Swallows' Yasuhiro Ogawa starts in Game 2 of the best-of-seven Japan Series against SoftBank Hawks at Yafuoku Dome in Fukuoka, southwestern Japan, on Oct. 25, 2015.

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Van den Hurk, Lee lead Hawks to Game 2 win

FUKUOKA, Oct. 26 Kyodo - Yakult Swallows manager Mitsuru Manaka (C) is seen in the dugout during the ninth inning of a 4-0 loss to the SoftBank Hawks in Game 2 of the Japan Series at Yafuoku Dome in Fukuoka on Oct. 25, 2015. The Hawks led the best-of-seven series two games to none.

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Samurai Japan bats tepid in warm-up defeat

FUKUOKA, Japan - Samurai Japan manager Hiroki Kokubo meets with reporters following a practice game against a team selected from the rosters of the Pacific League's Softbank Hawks and Nippon Ham Fighters at Yafuoku Dome in the southwestern Japan city of Fukuoka on Nov. 10, 2014. Samurai Japan lost 1-0 before opening its five-game series against a team of visiting big leaguers on Nov. 12 in Osaka.

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Samurai Japan bats tepid in warm-up defeat

FUKUOKA, Japan - Photo taken on Nov. 10, 2014, shows Samurai Japan, who lost a practice match 1-0 to a team selected from the rosters of the Pacific League's Softbank Hawks and Nippon Ham Fighters at Yafuoku Dome in the southwestern Japan city of Fukuoka. Samurai Japan will open its five-game series against a team of visiting big leaguers on Nov. 12 in Osaka.

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Hawks clinch Japan Series

FUKUOKA, Japan - Softbank Hawks players celebrate at Yafuoku Dome in Fukuoka on Oct. 30, 2014, after beating the Hanshin Tigers 1-0 in Game 5 of the Japan Series to win the team's first title in three years.

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Hawks clinch Japan Series

FUKUOKA, Japan - Softbank Hawks players celebrate at Yafuoku Dome in Fukuoka on Oct. 30, 2014, after beating the Hanshin Tigers 1-0 in Game 5 of the Japan Series to win the team's first title in three years.

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Hawks clinch Japan Series

FUKUOKA, Japan - Softbank Hawks fans celebrate at Yafuoku Dome in Fukuoka on Oct. 30, 2014, after the team beat the Hanshin Tigers 1-0 in Game 5 of the Japan Series to win the team's first title in three years.

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Hawks clinch Japan Series

FUKUOKA, Japan - Softbank Hawks players celebrate at Yafuoku Dome in Fukuoka on Oct. 30, 2014, after beating the Hanshin Tigers 1-0 in Game 5 of the Japan Series to win the team's first title in three years.

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Hawks clinch Japan Series

FUKUOKA, Japan - Softbank Hawks players toss manager Koji Akiyama into the air at Yafuoku Dome in Fukuoka on Oct. 30, 2014, after beating the Hanshin Tigers 1-0 in Game 5 of the Japan Series to win the team's first title in three years.

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Hawks clinch Japan Series

FUKUOKA, Japan - Softbank Hawks players toss manager Koji Akiyama into the air at Yafuoku Dome in Fukuoka on Oct. 30, 2014, after beating the Hanshin Tigers 1-0 in Game 5 of the Japan Series to win the team's first title in three years.

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Hawks clinch Japan Series

FUKUOKA, Japan - Softbank Hawks players toss manager Koji Akiyama into the air at Yafuoku Dome in Fukuoka on Oct. 30, 2014, after beating the Hanshin Tigers 1-0 in Game 5 of the Japan Series to win the team's first title in three years.

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Hawks beat Tigers in Japan Series Game 4

FUKUOKA, Japan - The Softbank Hawks' Akira Nakamura belts a three-run sayonara home run in the 10th inning of the Japan Series championship Game 4 against the Hanshin Tigers at Yafuoku Dome in the southwestern Japan city of Fukuoka on Oct. 29, 2014. The Hawks won 5-2, taking a 3-1 lead in the series.

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Hawks beat Tigers in Japan Series Game 4

FUKUOKA, Japan - The Softbank Hawks' Akira Nakamura belts a three-run sayonara home run in the 10th inning of the Japan Series championship Game 4 against the Hanshin Tigers at Yafuoku Dome in the southwestern Japan city of Fukuoka on Oct. 29, 2014. The Hawks won 5-2, taking a 3-1 lead in the series.

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Hawks beat Tigers in Japan Series Game 4

FUKUOKA, Japan - Softbank Hawks players hail Akira Nakamura (60), who belted a three-run sayonara home run in the 10th inning of the Japan Series championship Game 4 against the Hanshin Tigers at Yafuoku Dome in the southwestern Japan city of Fukuoka on Oct. 29, 2014. The Hawks won 5-2, taking a 3-1 lead in the series.

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Japan Series Game 4 held in Fukuoka

FUKUOKA, Japan - The Hanshin Tigers' Kosuke Fukudome hits the equalizer in the third inning of Game 4 of the Japan Series against the Hanshin Tigers at Yafuoku Dome in the southwestern Japan city of Fukuoka on Oct. 29, 2014. The Hawks took a 2-1 lead in the series.

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Japan Series Game 4 held in Fukuoka

FUKUOKA, Japan - The Softbank Hawks' Nobuhiro Matsuda hits to left, scoring the first two runs in the first inning of Game 4 of the Japan Series against the Hanshin Tigers at Yafuoku Dome in the southwestern Japan city of Fukuoka on Oct. 29, 2014. The Hawks took a 2-1 lead in the series.

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Japan Series Game 4 held in Fukuoka

FUKUOKA, Japan - Photo taken Oct. 29, 2014, at Yafuoku Dome in the southwestern Japan city of Fukuoka shows Hanshin Tigers' Minoru Iwata, who started in Game 4 of the Japan Series against the Softbank Hawks. The Hawks took a 2-1 lead in the series.

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Japan Series Game 4 held in Fukuoka

FUKUOKA, Japan - Photo taken Oct. 29, 2014, at Yafuoku Dome in the southwestern Japan city of Fukuoka shows Softbank Hawks' Kenichi Nakata, who started in Game 4 of the Japan Series against the Hanshin Tigers. The Hawks took a 2-1 lead in the series.

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Southpaw Otonari makes easy prey of Tigers in Game 3

FUKUOKA, Japan - Softbank Hawks fans celebrate as the team beats the Hanshin Tigers 5-1 in Game 3 of the Japan Series on Oct. 28, 2014, at Yafuoku Dome in the southwestern Japan city of Fukuoka. The Hawks took a 2-1 lead in the series.

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Southpaw Otonari makes easy prey of Tigers in Game 3

FUKUOKA, Japan - Softbank Hawks left-hander Kenji Otonari pitches in front of enthusiastic fans in Game 3 of the Japan Series against the Hanshin Tigers on Oct. 28, 2014, at Yafuoku Dome in the southwestern Japan city of Fukuoka. The Hawks beat the Tigers 5-1 to take a 2-1 lead in the series.

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Japan Series Game 3 held in Fukuoka

FUKUOKA, Japan - Hanshin Tigers players gather at the mound to encourage right-hander Shintaro Fujinami (C) after the Softbank Hawks score the opener in the first inning of Game 3 of the Japan Series at Yafuoku Dome in the southwestern Japan city of Fukuoka on Oct. 28, 2014. The two teams are even at 1-1.

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Japan Series Game 3 held in Fukuoka

FUKUOKA, Japan - Photo taken Oct. 28, 2014, at Yafuoku Dome in the southwestern Japanese city of Fukuoka shows Hanshin Tigers right-hander Shintaro Fujinami, who started in Game 3 of the Japan Series against the Softbank Hawks. The two teams are even at 1-1.

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Japan Series Game 3 held in Fukuoka

FUKUOKA, Japan - Photo taken Oct. 28, 2014, at Yafuoku Dome in the southwestern Japanese city of Fukuoka shows Softbank Hawks left-hander Kenji Otonari, who started in Game 3 of the Japan Series against the Hanshin Tigers. The two teams are even at 1-1.

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Softbank players take lap of honor after winning PL final

FUKUOKA, Japan - Softbank Hawks players take a lap of honor at Yafuoku! Dome in Fukuoka, southwestern Japan, on Oct. 20, 2014, after beating the Nippon Ham Fighters 4-1 in Game 6 of the Pacific League Climax Series final stage to win a spot in the Japan Series against the Hanshin Tigers of the Central League.

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Softbank players fete win in PL Climax Series final

FUKUOKA, Japan - Nobuhiro Matsuda (2nd from L) and other players of the Softbank Hawks professional baseball club celebrate after beating the Nippon Ham Fighters 4-1 in Game 6 of the Pacific League Climax Series final stage at Yafuoku! Dome in Fukuoka, southwestern Japan, on Oct. 20, 2014, winning a spot in the Japan Series against the Hanshin Tigers of the Central League.

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Hawks manager Akiyama to step down at end of season

FUKUOKA, Japan - Koji Akiyama (C), manager of the Softbank Hawks professional baseball club, is surrounded by reporters upon his arrival at Yafuoku Dome in the city of Fukuoka on Oct. 14, 2014. Akiyama, 52, who guided the club to its first Pacific League championship in three years, will step down from his post at the end of the season, team officials confirmed the same day.

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Hawks clinch 18th league title

FUKUOKA, Japan - Softbank Hawks manager Koji Akiyama (C) and team players celebrate after defeating the Orix Buffaloes 2-1 to clinch the Pacific League championship at Yafuoku Dome in Fukuoka on Oct. 2, 2014. It was the Hawks' 18th league championship and the first since 2011.

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Hawks clinch 18th league title

FUKUOKA, Japan - Softbank Hawks players toss infielder Nobuhiro Matsuda (C) into the air after he singled home the winning run in the bottom of the 10th inning in a 2-1 win over the Orix Buffaloes to clinch the Pacific League championship at Yafuoku Dome in Fukuoka on Oct. 2, 2014.

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Baseball: Tsutsugo powers CL to All-Star Game 1 win

Yoshitomo Tsutsugo of the DeNA BayStars hits a solo home run in the fifth inning of the Central League's 5-4 win over the Pacific League in Game 1 of the two-game Japanese All-Star series at Yafuoku Dome in Fukuoka on July 15, 2016. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Baseball: Tsutsugo powers CL to All-Star Game 1 win

Yoshitomo Tsutsugo of the DeNA BayStars hits a solo home run in the fifth inning of the Central League's 5-4 win over the Pacific League in Game 1 of the two-game Japanese All-Star series at Yafuoku Dome in Fukuoka on July 15, 2016. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Baseball: Otani wins All-Star Home Run Derby

Nippon Ham Fighters pitcher-designated hitter Shohei Otani wins the All-Star Home Run Derby prior to Game 1 at Yafuoku Dome in Fukuoka on July 15, 2016. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Baseball: Otani wins All-Star Home Run Derby

Nippon Ham Fighters pitcher-designated hitter Shohei Otani wins the All-Star Home Run Derby prior to Game 1 at Yafuoku Dome in Fukuoka on July 15, 2016. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Baseball: Otani does it all as Fighters complete sweep of Hawks

Shohei Otani strikes out 10 in eight innings as the Nippon Ham Fighters completed a three-game sweep of the SoftBank Hawks with a 2-0 win at Yafuoku Dome on July 3, 2016. Otani, batting in the leadoff spot, also homered on the game's first pitch. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Baseball: Otani does it all as Fighters complete sweep of Hawks

Shohei Otani strikes out 10 in eight innings as the Nippon Ham Fighters completed a three-game sweep of the SoftBank Hawks with a 2-0 win at Yafuoku Dome on July 3, 2016. Otani, batting in the leadoff spot, also homered on the game's first pitch. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Baseball: Otani does it all as Fighters complete sweep of Hawks

Nippon Ham Fighters pitcher Shohei Otani, batting in the leadoff spot, homers on the game's first pitch at Yafuoku Dome on July 3, 2016. Otani won his seventh straight start after throwing eight dominant innings as the Fighters completed a three-game sweep of the SoftBank Hawks with a 2-0 win. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Baseball: Yanagita, Matsuda provide power as Hawks sweep BayStars

Yuki Yanagita hits a solo home run in the third inning of the SoftBank Hawks' 4-2 win over the DeNA BayStars at Yafuoku Dome on June 9, 2016. Yanagita and Nobuhiro Matsuda each homered for the second straight day as the Hawks completed a three-game sweep of the BayStars. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Baseball: Wakamatsu goes eight innings as Dragons incinerate Hawks

Chunichi Dragons pitcher Shunta Wakamatsu picks up his fifth win of the season after scattering three hits over eight innings in a 5-0 win over the SoftBank Hawks at Yafuoku Dome in Fukuoka on June 1, 2016. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Van den Hurk makes history with 14-0 start to NPB career

SoftBank Hawks pitcher Rick van den Hurk allows a run in eight innings to pick up his fifth win of the season in a 2-1 win over the Lotte Marines at Yafuoku Dome in Fukuoka on May 10, 2016. The Dutch right-hander became the first Nippon Professional Baseball pitcher to start his first-team career by winning his first 14 decisions. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Former baseball star Kiyohara arrested over drug possession

Former pro baseball player Kazuhiro Kiyohara takes part in a baseball festival of the Golden Players Club, a baseball hall of fame, at Yafuoku Dome in Fukuoka, southwestern Japan, on Jan. 11, 2016. On Feb. 2, 2016, Tokyo police arrested the 48-year-old former Seibu Lions and Yomiuri Giants slugger on suspicion of possessing stimulant drugs. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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SoftBank Hawks, Yakult Swallows play in Game 2 of Japan Series

SoftBank Hawks starter Rick Vandenhurk pitches against the Yakult Swallows in Game 2 of the best-of-seven Japan Series at Yafuoku Dome in Fukuoka, southwestern Japan, on Oct. 25, 2015. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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SoftBank Hawks, Yakult Swallows play in Game 2 of Japan Series

SoftBank Hawks' Akira Nakamura hits a homer over the right fence off Yakult Swallows' Ryo Akiyoshi in the sixth inning of Game 2 in the best-of-seven Japan Series at Yafuoku Dome in Fukuoka, southwestern Japan, on Oct. 25, 2015. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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SoftBank Hawks, Yakult Swallows play in Game 2 of Japan Series

SoftBank Hawks' Lee Dae Ho hits a two-run homer over the left fence in the fourth inning of Game 2 of the best-of-seven Japan Series against the Yakult Swallows at Yafuoku Dome in Fukuoka, southwestern Japan, on Oct. 25, 2015. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Japan Series starts in Fukuoka

Yakult Swallows players go into a huddle after giving up 3 runs in the fourth inning of the Japan Series' first game against the SoftBank Hawks on Oct. 24, 2015, at the Yafuoku Dome in the southwestern Japan city of Fukuoka. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Japan Series starts in Fukuoka

SoftBank Hawks infielder Nobuhiro Matsuda slugs a solo homer to score the opening run during the fourth inning of the Japan Series' first game against the Yakult Swallows on Oct. 24, 2015, at the Yafuoku Dome in the southwestern Japan city of Fukuoka. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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SoftBank beat Yakult 4-2

SoftBank Hawks starter Shota Takeda pitches during the seventh inning of the Japan Series first game against the Yakult Swallows on Oct. 24, 2015, at the Yafuoku Dome in the southwestern Japan city of Fukuoka. Takeda went the full distance and SoftBank beat Yakult 4-2. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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SoftBank beat Yakult 4-2

Yakult Swallows Kazuhiro Hatakeyama hits two-run shot during the ninth inning of the Japan Series first game against the SoftBank Hawks on Oct. 24, 2015, at the Yafuoku Dome in the southwestern Japan city of Fukuoka. SoftBank beat Yakult 4-2. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Japan Series starts in Fukuoka

SoftBank Hawks players are exuberant after the team scored in the fourth inning of the Japan Series' first game against the Yakult Swallows on Oct. 24, 2015, at the Yafuoku Dome in the southwestern Japan city of Fukuoka. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Rugby star Goromaru throws first pitch at Japan Series

Rugby star Ayumu Goromaru throws out the ceremonial first pitch for the Japan Series between the SoftBank Hawks and the Yakult Swallows on Oct. 24, 2015, at the Yafuoku Dome in the southwestern Japan city of Fukuoka. Goromaru played a pivotal role in Japan's three wins at the Rugby World Cup. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Japan Series starts in Fukuoka

SoftBank Hawks infielder Nobuhiro Matsuda slugs a solo homer to score the opening run during the fourth inning of the Japan Series' first game against the Yakult Swallows on Oct. 24, 2015, at the Yafuoku Dome in the southwestern Japan city of Fukuoka. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Japan Series starts in Fukuoka

SoftBank Hawks infielder Nobuhiro Matsuda slugs a solo homer to score the opening run during the fourth inning of the Japan Series' first game against the Yakult Swallows on Oct. 24, 2015, at the Yafuoku Dome in the southwestern Japan city of Fukuoka. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo