BASEBALL
Dragons ground Hawks 2-1 in Japan Series opener
The Chunichi Dragons rallied for a 2-1 victory over the Softbank Hawks in the first game of the Japan Series at Yahoo Dome in Fukuoka on Saturday afternoon. Left fielder Masaaki Koike homered with two outs in the top of the 10th inning to seal the victory for the Dragons, who are seeking their second Nippon Professional Baseball title since 2007.
The Hawks struck first on an RBI single by center fielder Yuya Hasegawa in the fourth inning off Chunichi ace Wei-Yin Chen. But that would be the last hit Softbank got off Chen, who struck out 11 over eight innings and left with a no-decision.
Hawks starter Tsuyoshi Wada was just as effective, yielding two hits over eight innings while striking out eight. But he gave up the tying run on designated hitter Kazuhiro Wada’s homer to left-center in the seventh, setting the stage for Koike’s dramatics in extra innings off reliever Takahiro Mahara.
Game 2 of the Japan Series will be played Sunday evening at Yahoo Dome.
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multitasker
Doh!!! I missed recording the bottom of the 10th in game 2.... But I assume the Dragons won, so... THE CHOKE IS ON!! Long live the choking Hawks!
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multitasker
Or not...
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pawatan
I told you the Hawks are world-class chokers! Who were the people claiming they were going to sweep or at worst win 4-1? Well at BEST they'll win 4-2 and at worst they will be crying in the dugout again on Wednesday.
Entertaining to say the least. Love the Hawks 15 Ks in game 1.
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