Japanese baseball ‘favourites’ SoftBank have suffered a shocking 12th consecutive defeat with a last-gasp loss for the second day in a row.

SoftBank suffered a 1-2 walk-off loss to the Chiba Lotte Marines at Jojo Marine Stadium in Japan on 24 April.

Leading 1-0 in the bottom of the ninth inning, the team gave up a two-run homer to Katsuya Kakunaka with the bases loaded. The loss snapped a shocking 12-game losing streak dating back to July 7 against the Rakuten Eagles. It is the team’s longest losing streak in 54 years since a 15-game losing streak in 1969.

SoftBank, in third place in the Pacific League, extended its lead over the first-place Oryx Buffaloes to eight games.

SoftBank was brought to his knees by Hisanori Yasuda’s game-tying hit in the bottom of the 10th inning of extra innings in a 3-3 tie the day before.바카라

The loss was even more stinging. SoftBank held on to the one run they scored in the top of the first inning against “perfect pitcher” Roki Sasaki. Ishikawa pitched seven innings of four-hit shutout ball.

SoftBank brought in Mexican reliever Roberto Osuna in the bottom of the ninth, but the closer, who had a 0.32 ERA prior to the game, was struck down by his hometown team with one out to escape his 11th straight loss. Chiba Lotte Kakunaka hit a thrilling walk-off home run for the first time in his 17-year career.

Japan’s Nikkan Sports said, “It’s a nightmare. SoftBank has lost its 12th straight game with a walk-off loss for the second straight day.”

SoftBank will face the Orix Buffaloes on the 25th. Starting for the Oryx is Yoshinobuda Yamamoto, who won the Sawamura Award for the league’s best pitcher for the second year in a row. He has been dominant this season, going 9-3 with a 1.74 ERA.

SoftBank’s path out of the losing streak is a tough one.