Softbank One Win (or Tie) Away From Japan Series
Listen to the story
Softbank is one step away from reaching the Japan Series. The team only needs a win or a tie in their next game against Nippon-Ham to move forward in the playoffs.
If the score stays tied after 12 innings, the game will become a called game, meaning it ends without a winner. Even in this case, Softbank would still advance.
There is also a small chance of a very rare event: a walk-off hit that ties the score in the final inning. This kind of play is extremely uncommon in baseball.
During the same series, a tense moment occurred when Nippon-Ham player Kato was hit by a pitch on his right elbow. He appeared to be in serious pain, but he stayed in the game and kept playing.
In another moment, Softbank's Kurihara was also hit by a pitch. The incident caused a stir among fans watching in the stadium.
These events have added extra drama to an already exciting playoff race, as fans wait to see whether Softbank can secure its place in the Japan Series.
Separately, in another baseball story, former player Shinya Tsuruoka commented that a player named Fukushima should learn from coach Hisashi Takeda. No further details were given about this advice.
Vocabulary6 words
- innings
- parts of a baseball game when each team plays
- called game
- a game stopped early by officials, often due to rules about time or score
- walk-off
- a hit that ends the game immediately because it decides the result
- elbow
- the joint in the middle of the arm
- stadium
- a large place built for watching sports
- playoff
- a series of games that decide who moves to the next stage
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Quiz
Answer key
1. A win or a tie 2. The game becomes a called game 3. Kato
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Fill-in-the-blank listening
Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.
Softbank is one step away from reaching the Japan _____.
The team only needs a win or a _____ in their next game against Nippon-Ham.
If the score stays tied after 12 _____, the game will become a called game.
There is also a small chance of a very rare event: a _____ hit that ties the score in the final inning.
Nippon-Ham player Kato was hit by a pitch on his right _____.
He appeared to be in serious _____, but he stayed in the game.
Softbank's Kurihara was also hit by a pitch, which caused a stir among fans in the _____.
Former player Shinya Tsuruoka commented that Fukushima should learn from coach Hisashi _____.
Discussion questions
- Why do you think a win-or-tie rule exists in some playoff formats?
- Have you ever watched a sports game that ended in a tie? How did you feel about it?
- Why might a player continue playing after being hit by a pitch?
- What makes certain sports plays, like a walk-off hit, exciting for fans?
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