The Softbank Hawks continued their ascent toward the top of the Pacific League by handing the division leading Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters a 10-0 whipping, moving within one game of the division lead. 

Nagisa Arakaki, who has battled injury for much of the season, came through with his best performance of the year, throwing a four-hit complete game shutout. Hiroki Kokubo drove in three runs in Monday’s contest, giving the Sadaharu Oh’s Hawks the advantage in the three game series.  (For those of you interested in the more macabre side of Japanese baseball, check out the note on Arakaki from Japanesebaseball.com: “November 26, 1998 Katsutoshi Miwata (Orix Head Scout) jumps to his death from an apartment complex after finding out that Arakaki wouldn’t sign with them.”)

Here are wraps of the rest of yesterday’s action along with current standings of both leagues in Japan.