Chihiro Kaneko's comeback came too soon for Fukuoka Softbank.
The right-hander, pitching his first game for Orix since June 16, threw seven shutout innings on Friday in the Buffaloes' 3-1 win over the Hawks at Kyocera Dome.
The Hawks' defeat left them as the last seed in the Pacific League Climax Series. The Hawks' defense of their Japan Series championship will now begin at Seibu Dome on Oct. 13. The winner of that best-of-three series will travel to Sapporo Dome to take on the PL champion Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters.