Game RECAP May 5 / 2025 Hanshin vs Yomiuri Giants | Tora-Ho!
RECAP
Tigers Storm Back to Beat Giants with Double-Digit Explosion, Pull Even at the Top
Hanshin roared back from an early deficit to defeat the Yomiuri Giants in a resounding comeback, erupting for double-digit runs in the latter half of the game and moving into a tie for first place.
Batting third, Shota Morishita was the star of the night, going 4-for-5 with 4 RBIs, including his 4th home run of the season—a solo shot to tie the game. On the mound, reliever Beasley threw three hitless scoreless innings to earn his first win of the season.
Trailing by one run in the 4th inning and still hitless against Giants starter Togoh, Morishita launched a game-tying solo homer on a 150 km/h fastball, marking his second home run in as many games.
“Being able to tie it right after they scored was huge,” Morishita commented. “Even though I was behind in the count, I stayed focused on my pitch and got a good swing on it.”
The Tigers took the lead in the 6th inning, when Nakano beat out an infield single down the third-base line to drive in a run, and Morishita followed with an RBI single to right. In the 7th, a combination of four walks by Giants reliever Yokokawa and timely hitting led to three more runs. Obata added an RBI single in the 8th, and in the 9th, after Morishita’s fourth hit of the game, Sato Teru sealed the victory with his 11th home run of the season—a no-doubt 3-run shot.
Starter Tomita allowed one run over three innings. Manager Fujikawa boldly swapped both pitcher and catcher in the 4th inning, bringing in Beasley and Umeno, who combined to shut down the Giants over the next three innings. Oyokawa and Yuasa finished the job with clean relief efforts.
This win brings Hanshin level with the Giants at the top of the standings. The Tigers have now won six of their seven games against Yomiuri this season—including a perfect 4–0 record at Tokyo Dome. Their four-game win streak at the Dome dating back to Opening Day marks the first time since 2003. Remarkably, Hanshin has never lost a game played at Tokyo Dome on May 5 since its opening in 1988.