In many ways, this past week’s series results were somewhat anti-climactic, though individual games were not without their dramatic moments. The Orix Buffaloes (PL) and Hanshin Tigers (CL) won their leagues by 15.5 and 11.5 games respectively, so anything short of a clash of these two titans in the final would have left a bad taste in the mouths of many fans. Let’s see how the semi-finals went down.
Pacific League
Chiba Lotte Marines @ Orix Buffaloes
Game 1: Manabu Mima vs. Yoshinobu Yamamoto
The Marines came out strong, scoring three in the first inning. However, the defending champs showed resolve, tying the game in the bottom of the fourth. The Marines took the lead again in the top of the sixth, but the Buffaloes used two walks and three hits to put up a four-spot in the bottom of the inning, taking the lead for good. The Marines got one back in the seventh on a sac fly, but that was all they got. The Buffaloes tacked on an insurance run in the eighth for good measure. Final Score: Buffaloes 8, Marines 5
Game 2: C.C. Mercedes vs. Daiki Tajima
The Marines once again scored in the opening frame. This time it was just one run and it came on a one-out ground out. The Buffaloes scored three in the bottom half of the inning, threading together five straight singles and a sacrifice fly. That lead lasted until the sixth inning, when the Marines put up a three-spot on the strength of two walks and two hits. In the bottom of the seventh, Leandro Cedeño walloped a two-run home run to left, giving the Buffaloes the lead once again. However, the Marines used their sixth walk of the game in the top of the ninth to propel their comeback. Hisanori Yasuda brought home the tying run and his pinch runner represented the game-winning run, which came on a sacrifice fly. Final Score: Marines 6, Buffaloes 5
Game 3: Hirokazu Sawamura vs. Kohei Azuma
The Marines declared a bullpen day, and surprisingly, their relievers came through strongly for seven innings. Meanwhile, the Buffaloes also threw up shutout innings that entire stretch. Azuma lasted five, and four relievers after him each kept the trend going for their team. The bats came to life at long last in the eighth, with an RBI single from catcher Kenya Wakatsuki, who then scored on a double from pinch-hitter Yuma Tongu. Final Score: Buffaloes 2, Marines 0
Game 4: Atsuki Taneichi vs. Hiroya Miyagi
The Buffaloes got on board early with a two-run home run from Tomoya Mori in the bottom of the first. They would add to the lead when Mori got cashed in on a Yutaro Sugimoto double in the sixth. Miyagi would go six innings of shutout ball before handing the baton to the bullpen. Shota Abe was clean in the seventh, but Soichiro Yamazaki and Yoshihisa Hirano each allowed solo home runs to open their respective innings. Fortunately for the Buffaloes, that was all they allowed. It was a narrow win, but it got them to the Japan Series for the third straight year. Final Score: Buffaloes 3, Marines 2
Central League
Hiroshima Toyo Carp @ Hanshin Tigers
Game 1: Aren Kuri vs. Shoki Murakami
The Carp drew first blood with a triple and a sac fly in the top of the fourth. The Tigers answered right back with a rookie Shota Morishita solo home run. They scored three more the next inning, one coming off Murakami’s bat (an RBI double down the right-field line). The Tigers’ relief was nearly perfect, allowing just a single in three innings of work, and they coasted to victory. Final Score: Tigers 4, Carp 1
Game 2: Daichi Ohsera vs. Masashi Itoh
Once again, it was the Carp who got on board first. Ryosuke Kikuchi led off the game with a double and eventually came home on a single to left. The Tigers evened the score in the bottom of the second with a bit of help from Hiroshima’s right fielder, who let a single by Sheldon Neuse get past him, allowing the tying run to score. The game remained knotted at one despite ample chances for the Carp in the middle innings. In the bottom of the ninth, the Tigers loaded the bases on a double and two walks (one of which was intentional). Seiya Kinami hit a single through the right side to walk this one off. Final Score: Tigers 2, Carp 1
Game 3: Hiroki Tokoda vs. Koutaro Ohtake
Once again, it was the Carp getting board first. In the top of the fourth, Shogo Sakakura muscled a ball over the right side of the infield to bring home the opening run. The lead would be short-lived, as the Tigers put up a two-spot in the bottom of the frame on RBI singles from Neuse and Seishiro Sakamoto. The Carp tied it up the very next inning with a sac fly. However, Sakamoto helped the Tigers pull ahead in the bottom of the sixth on another RBI single, and then the next inning, they earned another run with a bases-loaded walk. Their bullpen held fort, and the sweep was complete. Final Score: Tigers 4, Carp 2
And so we are getting the series that many were hoping for: a Kansai Derby for the first time in 59 years. The last time it happened, in 1964, it was the Tigers against the Nankai Hawks (who later moved to Fukuoka and became Daiei and are now SoftBank). The Tigers lost that series three games to four, and hope to take home their first Japan Series victory in 38 years. The Buffaloes, meanwhile, are aiming for back-to-back titles after beating the Yakult Swallows last year.
