Carp Aim for Historic Ninth Straight Home Run Against Hanshin at Mazda Stadium

The Hiroshima Toyo Carp will look to make history when they face the Hanshin Tigers at Mazda Stadium on August 14.

Hiroshima has already hit at least one home run in each of its first eight home games against Hanshin this season, producing a total of 10 home runs.

A ninth consecutive home run game would establish a new NPB record for the most consecutive home games with a home run against the same opponent from the beginning of a season.

The current record is eight consecutive games, a mark Hiroshima has matched this season and originally set in 1960.

The Carp's home-run streak against Hanshin began in their first meeting at Mazda Stadium on April 3.

The sequence has featured a different combination of hitters throughout the season:

April 3: Elfreis Montero
Akira Akiyama
Taisei Sasaki and Elfreis Montero
Nagahara
Taisei Sasaki
Ryoma Kikuchi
Shogo Sakakura
Sandro Fabian
Elfreis Montero

Across those eight games, Hiroshima has hit 10 home runs.

The contrast with last season is particularly striking. In 2025, the Carp hit only one home run in 13 home games against Hanshin, with Montero providing the lone long ball on August 12.

This season, however, Hiroshima's home games against the Tigers have produced considerably more power.

The timing of the record opportunity is also significant. The Carp enter the series in last place and on a six-game losing streak, while Hanshin sits atop the Central League. Hiroshima is looking for an immediate turnaround as it begins a three-game series at Mazda Stadium.

Recent coverage of the Hanshin–Hiroshima series

The pitching matchup is also set: Hiroshima's Kaito Morishita will face Hanshin's Yuki Saiki.

For the Carp, the record is a nice secondary storyline. The primary objective is much more important: end the losing streak and finally turn some of their recent home-run production against Hanshin into a win.

If Hiroshima sends another ball over the wall tonight, however, it will make a little piece of Carp history at the same time.