CHAMPION: YAKULT SWALLOWS
| 2001 CENTRAL LEAGUE TITLE | ||
|---|---|---|
| ERA | Shigeki Noguchi (Dragons) | 2.46 |
| Most games won | Shugo Fujii (Swallows) | 14 |
| Most strike outs | Shigeki Noguchi (Dragons) | 187 |
| Most saves | Shingo Takatsu (Swallows) | 37SP |
| Highest hitting average | Hideki Matsui (Giants) | .333 |
| Most base hits | Takuro Ishii (Bay Stars) | 171 |
| Homerun | Roberto Petagine (Swallows) | 39 |
| RBI | Roberto Petagine (Swallows) | 127 |
| Most on base | Roberto Petagine (Swallows) | .466 |
| Most bases stolen | Norihiro Akahoshi (Tigers) | 39 |
October
The Giants played its very last game of the season on Oct 1, at Koshien Stadium.
But it could not get any runs and lost to the Tigers 0 to 5.
The Swallows lost too that day 1 to 3 to the Carp.It needs to now win one game to clinch the pennant.
However, on Oct 2, the Swallows lost in a 12 inning game to the Tigers. It was 1 to 2.
The following it lost again to the Tigers 0 to 4.
Then on Oct 4, the Swallows finished a 12 inning game 4 to 4 tied.
The Giants was prompted to start training again, as the Swallows faced difficulty winning just one game.
It was on Oct 5. The Swallows played a tough game the following day. It was behind the BayStars until
Roberto Petagine based a homer to bring the game to a tie in the 8th inning.
The game went into extra inning. In the 10th inning, during the BayStars wild pitch got
the Swallows came home. In the end, the Swallows won 6 to 4 to clinch the pennant victory.
It's its first league victory in 6 years.
Final league standing
1. Yakult Swallows
2. Tokyo Yomiuri Giants
3. Yokohama Bay Stars
4. Hiroshima Toyo Carp
5. Chunichi Dragons
6. Hanshin Tigers
September
The Swallows won again 7 to 1 over the Tigers on Sept 1. The Giants lost big to the Carp 5 to 14.
It was the same result the next day. The Swallows won 3 to 2, while the Giants lost 4 to 10 to the Carp.
On Sept 4, the Swallows did not play. And the Giants at last won. It was 3 to 1 over the BayStars including Hideki Matsui's 28th homer.But the Giants lost the next day 0 to 6. The Swallows too lost 1 to 2 to the Carp.
The top 2 team met from Sept 7. The Giants clinched the first, 11 to 2, and the second 5 to 3. It's the first time this season that the Swallows marked a losing streak of 4. On Sept 9, the Giants' Masumi Kuwata pitched well, shutting out the Swallows in 8 innings. With Hideki Matsui's homerun, the team managed to win again 1 to 0. Kuwata earned his 3rd win.
On Sept 11, the Swallows played a 1 to 8 game and marked its 6th straight losss. The losing streak was halted the following day by winning 7 to 6. The Giants did not give up. That day it won 7 to 4 against the BayStars. But on Sept 13, even though Hideki Matsui slugged 2 homers, the Giants did not quite make it. The game ended 6 to 5. The Swallows lost too to the Tigers in the 11th inning 2 to 3.
In the only game on Sept 14, the Swallows won 4 to 1 over the Carp, It won again 9 to 5 the following day, thus reducing its magic number to 13. Meanwhile the Giants defeated the Dragons 9 to 2. On Sept 16, the Swallows defeated the Carp 2 to 0, and even though the Giants overwhelmed the Dragons 9 to 3, its "magic" number reduced to 12.
The mood was down for the Giants when Masumi Kuwata did not last for even 2 full innings. But with Yoshinobu Takahashi's grand slam, the Giants took the lead over the Tigers. It won 8 to 4. The Swallows won its 3rd straight game 5 to 1 over the BayStars. On Sept 19, the Giants' Hisanori Takahashi marked his first shut out game of the season. The Giants won 4 to 0. But the Swallows won again too 3 to 0. Then on Sept 20, the top 2 teams lost. The Giants to the Tigers 1 to 2 and the Swallows 2 to 4. Both teams' winning streak halted at 4.
Its the final games this season between the Giants and the Swallows from Sept 22. The Swallows scored first, but the Giants with Akira Etoh's 2 run homer reversed the game. And the Giants former star pitchers closed the game, They're Masaki Saito and the Masumi Kuwata. The score, 4 to 3 for the Giants. On Sept 23, the Giants with Hideki Matsui's 3 run homer defeated the Swallows again. It was 8 to 4. And in the very final match between the 2 teams, the Giants reversed the game to win 3 to 2. Masumi Kuwata successfully closed the game.
The Giants faced the Carp on Sept 25. It won again 2 to 1, and Masumi Kuwata collected his 2nd save. The Swallows at last won that day, defeating the Dragons 9 to 2. By the way, Dragons' skipper Senichi Hoshino announced that he would step down from the post the end of the season. The following day, the Giants lost 4 to 8 to the Carp, while the Swallows won 8 to 1 over the Dragons, strengthening the chance of the Swallows to gain the pennant. On Sept 27, the Giants in the 1st inning lost 8 runs to the Carp. It appeared as if there was not hope for the Giants to recover. But thereafter, Hideki Matsui blasted 3 homers. And with Akira Etoh's homer the Giants only had one more run to add for a tie. But the Giants failed to bat in further runs, and finished the game 10 to 11. The Swallows won 3 to 2 over the Dragons. It's magic number is down to 4.
On the afternoon of Sept 28, a sudden announcement shocked Japan's baseball fans. Shigeo Nagashima disclosed to fans that he will quit skippering for the Giants at the end of the season. It was treated as the top news story in all major networks in Japan. Nagashima said that he wished to step down a few years ago, but waited until the time was ripe. He chose Tatsunori Hara, current head coach to replace him.
The Giants played its final game at the Tokyo Dome under Nagashima on Sept 30. It was a special game not only for Nagashima, and his fans, but also for three players. Catcher Shinichi Murata singled in his final game of his career. The Giants were losing 4 to 9 to the BayStars, but the game was a very emotional one especially in the 9th inning. Former ace Hiromu Makihara pitched one out, followed by Masaki Saitoh who struck out 2. Each time, Nagashima was on the mound to welcome them. It was the final game for both too. After the game a farewell ceremony was held. The dome was darkened and the spotlight on Nagashima. He addressed his farewell to fans, and he was followed by the retiring players. Nagashima's successor Tatsunori Hara stated his commitment to give his best after taking over. Then Hara and active players handed those who were leaving bouquet of flowers. Everyone was clearly in tears. Michiyo's Note: It was a very moving farewell, although simple.
League standing as of September 30 (in terms of number of wins)
1. Tokyo Yomiuri Giants
2. Yakult Swallows
3. Yokohama Bay Stars
4. Hiroshima Toyo Carp
5. Chunichi Dragons
6. Hanshin Tigers
August
The Giants, with Yoshinobu Takahashi's 2 run, and Shinosuke Abe's grand slam, defeated the Dragons 7 to 0 on Aug 1.
Yusaku Iriki shut the Dragons out over a distance.
The Swallows won too, over the Tigers 4 to 3. So the Swallows remain on top.
The two top teams won again the next day. The Giants with Kazuhiro Kiyohara's 2 homers to win 5 to 1 over the Dragons.
And the Swallows 7 to 3 over the Tigers. By the way, the BayStars winning streak reached 9.
The Swallows' Kazuhisa Ishii was looked on by scouts from US Major League teams in the game he started on Aug 3. But he could not last very long. The Swallows, however, clinched the game 6 to 4 over the Dragons with Roberto Petagine's 3 run homer. The Giants,that day, was able to keep its lead by defeating the BayStars 4 to 3. The BayStars winning streak came to an end. The following day, the Swallos won 12 to 1, but the Giants lost 1 to 7 to the BayStars. On Aug 5, the Swallows won again 2 to 1, while the Giants lost again 1 to 6.
On Aug 7, the Giants won dramatically. It was ahead, then was 3 runs behind the Tigers. But Akira Eto and Yoshinobu Takahashi homered to catch up with the Tigers. In the final inning, it was Eto again. He hit the runner back home to end the game 7 to 6. Meanwhile the Swallows gave up it's lead to the Carp to finish 3 to 5. On Aug 8 the Swallows lost a very competitive game 8 to 9, and the Giants lost too 3 to 7. Both team won the following day. The Swallows 6 to 0, and the Giants 7 to 2.
The top 2 teams faced eachother. On Aug 10, the Giants starter was former ace, Masumi Kuwata. He pitched well. And Hideki Matsui supported him with 2 homers. The Giants defeated the Swallows 7 to 1. The Giants won again the next day with Domingo Martinez's 2 homers and one by Kazuhiro Kiyohara, and Akira Eto each. And the 5 to 4 win gave the Giants back first place. On Aug 12, at last the Swallows managed to win 7 to 4, and getting back first place.
Swallows catcher Atsuya Furuta played on Aug 14 even though he was in pain from an injury. And he homered to help his team win 3 to 1 over the BayStars. The Giants was leading 5 to 0, but after that relieve pitchers were in a mess and Yoshinobu Takahashi erred out in the field. The Giants in the end lost 5 to 6 to the Dragons. The Giants lost again on Aug 15 1 to 4, and as the Swallows won 7 to 0 to the BayStars, it's increased its lead in the league standing. On Aug 16, the Swallows played a 0 to 0 game that went up to the 12th inning and ending there. And due to the Giants lost again 3 to 9, the Swallows was given the "magic" number to countdown to its league victory or 33. The Swallows even though it lost the next day to the Dragons 3 to 6, because the BayStars lost, it's magic number was reduced to 32. The Giants by the way won 6 to 3 to the Carp. On Aug 18, the Swallows lost and the BayStars won. The Swallows magic number disappeared meaning the BayStars at this point can take the league title by winning all game regardless of how the Swallows perform. On Aug 19 the Swallows lost again. It was 0 to 2 to the Dragons. And the Giants defeated the Carp 8 to 2 to replace the Swallows for the top post.
The Giants on Aug 21, with homers by Akira Eto and Kazuhiro Kiyohara defeated the BayStars 13 to 3. It's the Giants 4th straight win. The Swallows's game was rained out. The next day, the Giants game at the Tokyo Dome was cancelled due to an approaching typhoon, It's happened before in 1996. And the Swallows game at its outdoor Jingu Stadium was obviously rained out. On Aug 23, the Giants achieved its 5th straight win, the most winning streak so far this season in a 4 to 3 game against the BayStars. The Swallows won too 3 to 1 over the Tigers to end it's losing streak at 3.
The Giants and the Swallows both won on Aug 24. The Giants defeated the Dragons 8 to 4, while the Swallows with Roberto Petagine's and Atsuya Furuta's homers crashed the BayStars 6 to 3. The next day, the Swallows won 3 to 0 over the BayStars, while the Giants lost 8 to 5 to the Dragons to take further lead in the league standing. And it's "magic" number was reduced to 27. On Aug 26, the Swallows won again, this time, 4 to 1, and the Giants lost again, 4 to 9.
The Swallows caught up with the Dragons thanks to Ramirez's grand slam, but the game ended a 9 to 9 tie on Aug 28. The Giants Yusaku Iriki started with only a day in between. The Giants managed to win 4 to 2 over the Tigers. But on Aug 29 the Giants lost 0 to 1, while the Swallows overwhelmed the Dragons 10 to 1 despite losing star catcher Atsuya Furuta. Furuta is expected to be out for about a month. Only one game was completed on Aug 30. The Swallows was caught up by the Dragons, but with Roberto Petagine's 2 run homer managed to clinch it in the end 4 to 2.
On Aug 31, the Giants lost 2 to 5 against the Carp. The Swallows did not play a game.
League standing as of August 31
1. Yakult Swallows
2. Tokyo Yomiuri Giants
3. Yokohama Bay Stars
4. Chunichi Dragons
5. Hiroshima Toyo Carp
6. Hanshin Tigers
July
The Giants' lost to the Carp in a 4 to 14 game on July 1. While the runner up the Swallows lost too 6 to 7 to the Tigers.
The Giants' Kazuhiro Kiyohara slammed 2 homers, and Yoshinobu Takahashi had one too. And the Giants defeated runner up, the Swallows on June 3, 7 to 4. The next day, Takahashi homered again, and at last Hideki Matsui did too, to crush the Swallows 7 to 2.
The Giants lost to the Baystars 3 to 6 on July 6, and the following day to a grand slam by Motonobu Tanishige to capture the game in the 9th inning. It was 1 to 5. And it succumbed to its 3rd straight loss in a 2 to 5 game on July 8. The Swallows, on the other hand, defeated the Dragons 6 to 0.
The top 2 teams faced eachother from July 10. The first was a competitive game, but the Swallows won 7 to 6. Hideki Matsui by the way marked his 51st straight game to get on base, breaking the record of former baseball great Sadaharu Oh. The next day, the Giants lost again 1 to 7 and losing 1st place to the Swallows. However on July 12, the Giants had a whooping victory of 13 to 1, to regain first place.
The Giants'Kazuhiro Kiyohara homered a 3-run to catch up with the Carp on July 13. But in the final innings, the Giants was in bad shape. It lost 5 to 10. The next day, Kiyohara secured the game. In the 11th inning, he grand slammed, taking the team to a 5 to 1 victory. Then on July 15, Akira Eto homered to catch up with the Carp, and Hideki Matsui blasted another to defeated the Carp 4 to 3.
On July 17, the Giants was defeated by the Tigers in the final inning, 2 to 3. For the Tigers, it's the team's 5th straight win. The Swallows meanwhile crushed the Carp 12 to 2. The Giants the following day started its former ace pitcher Masumi Kuwata. But the game which it was leading was reversed, and lost again to the Tigers 3 to 5. Runner up Swallos lost too 1 to 2 to the Carp. On July 19, the Tigers clinched the game in the 11th inning, defeating the Giants 7 to 6 and marking its 7th straight win.
In the first game after the all-star break on July 27, the top two teams faced eachother. The Giants seemed to start off the game strong with Dasuke Motoki's grand slam. But the Swallows almost caught up. Then the Giants added runs again, to win 9 to 5. The next day, however, the Swallows managed to defeat the Giants 6 to 5. And on July 29, the Giants pitcher lost 4 runs in 4 innings, and the Giants tried to catch up with Hideki Matsui's and Akira Eto's homers, but failed. With the 2 to 5 loss, the Giants fell from first place, replaced by the Swallows.
On July 31, the Swallows lost miserably to the Tigers 0 to 8. The Giants did not play that day.
League standing as of July 31
1. Yakult Swallows
2. Tokyo Yomiuri Giants
3. Chunichi Dragons
4. Yokohama Bay Stars
5. Hanshin Tigers
6. Hiroshima Toyo Carp
June
The Giants marked its 3rd straight loss in a 3 to 9 game against the Carp on June 1.
And it lost in an 11 inning game 8 to 11 the next day.
Again, it lost on June 3 after reversing its lead from the Carp.
The game ended 4 to 5.
But as the Swallows lost too, 1 to 7 to the Dragons, the Giants kept first place in the league.
The Giants' losing streak continues as it lost to the Dragons 2 to 4 on June 5. The following day it lost again 3 to 5. But it's losing streak ended on June 7 at 7, with Kazuhiro Kiyohara's 2 homers. The game was 5 to 2.
On June 9, Kazuhiro Kiyohara was even more amazing. He homered 3 times. And the Giants defeated the Tigers 15 to 10. The next day, the Giants won again 5 to 0.
The Giants proved better with the bat against the Carp on June 12, but not so reliable relief pitchers made the game a competitive one at 10 to 7.
The Dragons losing streak ended at 6 on June 15 when it defeated the Giants 5 to 1. The next day, it was the Giants turn to win. It was a 3 to 1 game. And it won again on June 17, 6 to 2.
In a game that's filled with failed bunts on June 20, the team to clinch it from the Giants was the Tigers. In the 12th inning game, the Tigers won 2 to 1. And the Tigers again had a "sayonara" win the next day to clinch the game 1 to 0.
The Giants are in bad shape. On June 22, it lost again, this time to the BayStars 2 to 6. Meanwhile the Swallows defeated the Tigers 9 to 1 inching closer to the Giants. But in terms of it's win to loss ratio, it exceeds the Giants. The Giants managed to defeat the BayStars the next day 7 to 2. The Swallows won too 3 to 0. The Giants clinched another win on June 24 with Akira Eto's 17th homerun. It won 4 to 3. And the Swallows extended it's winning streak to 7 by beating the Tigers 5 to 4.
The Giants played the opener for Sapporo Dome on June 26. It was a seesaw game which in the end, the Giants clinched from the Dragons 6 to 5. But the next day, the Dragons captured an 11 inning game 9 to 5. On June 28, Koji Uehara completed his first shut out game of his season for his 6th win. The Giants won 6 to 0. Meanwhile the Swallows continue to be in good shape. It defeated the BayStars 13 to 3.
The Giants' Yoshinobu Takahashi blasted 2 homers to take his team to a 4 to 2 win over the Carp on June 30.
League standing as of June 30
1. Tokyo Yomiuri Giants
2. Yakult Swallows
3. Chunichi Dragons
4. Hiroshima Toyo Carp
5. Yokohama Bay Stars
6. Hanshin Tigers
May
The Giants got off to a devastating start in May. It lost 0 to 17 to the Dragons.
The Tigers losing streak extended to 6 the same day in a 1 to 4 game against the Carp.
The Giants, the next day retained its top spot by defeating the Dragons 3 to 1.
And it won on May 3 with Domingo Martinez's homerun, and Korean M C Jung's hurling a distance.
The Giants Hisanori Takahashi hurled over a distance on May 4 while catcher Shinnosuke Abe hoped the team with a 3 run homer. The Giants defeated the BayStars 5 to 1. The Tigers managed to win after 7 straight losses. It won 4 to 3 against the Dragons. But the next day, the Tigers lost 1 to 3. While the Giants lost too 2 to 3 to the BayStars. On May 6, the Giants defeated the team 14 to 4, including a homer by Hideki Matsui. The most exciting game that day was between the Carp and the Swallows. It was a day exploding with homers. The Carp's Eddy Diaz had 3 alone. But in the end, it was the Swallows that won 15 to 11.
The Giants' Yusuke Iriki achieved his first shut out game on May 8 and his team won 2 to 0 over the Carp. The next day, a big turn of event. The Giants was leading the game 6 to 3, but in the final inning, the Carp batted in runs to win 7 to 6. The Giants seemed to be right on track to catch up with the Carp, but the Carp in the end won 12 to 11 on May 10.
The Giants faced its defeat for the 3rd straight time on May 11. It lost to the Dragons 4 to 1. But the following day, the Giants luckily got the Dragons all out in a triple play in the 9th inning to finish the game 3 to 1. On May 13, the Giants former ace pitcher Masumi Kuwata was a failure. And it lost to the Dragons 2 to 6. Kuwata was demoted to the "farm" team thereafter.
On May 15, the Giants played a competitive game against the Tigers. But with Kazuhiro Kiyohara's 5 RBIs managed to win 11 to 8. The next day, however, the Giants failed to catch up, and lost the game 4 to 5. On May 17, Koji Uehara was back after recovering from an injury and succeeded in striking out 10 during 7 innings. And the Giants won 4 to 2.
The Giants Akira Eto slammed 2 homers on May 18 against the BayStars among others to give the team win 10 to 3. Hideki Matsui had only his 9th homer the next day, and it helped the team win 7 to 5. On May 20, Yusaku Iriki succeeded in hurling over the distance, and with homers by Toshihisa Nishi and Daisuke Motoki, won his 5th game. The result was 7 to 2.
The Giants winning streak was ended by the Swallows on May 22 in a 4 to 8 game. And the Swallows surpassed the Dragons for 2nd place. The Swallows with Roberto Petagine's 2 homer defeated the Giants again the next day 14 to 8.
On May 24, the Dragon's Shigeki Noguchi struck out 16, tying with the Central League record. He also marked his 3rd shut out game. The Dragons won 2 to 0 over the Tigers.
The Giants' blasted with homers on May 25. Hideki Matsui cracked 2. And the Giants won 12 to 4 against the Tigers. But the next day, it was a devastating lost of 0 to 10. On May 27, the Giants clinched a 7 to 3 win.
The Giants Hideki Matsui homered and Akira Eto too defeating the Swallows 10 to 2 on May 29. The next day however, it was shut out 0 to 7. And even a worse defeat for the Giants on May 31. It lost to Atsunori Inaba's grand slam game clinching homer. The Swallows won 8 to 4.
League standing as of May 31
1. Tokyo Yomiuri Giants
2. Yakult Swallows
3. Chunichi Dragons
4. Hiroshima Toyo Carp
5. Hanshin Tigers
6. Yokohama Bay Stars
April
Hideki Matsui whacked his first homer of the season on Apr 1. The Giants' homerun king drove 3 runners home.
But the real drama came in the 8th. The Giants was behind, the Tigers. With runner on base, rookie Shinosuke Abe was called as a pinch hitter.
He brought the runner home. And Tomohiro Nioka, gave the Giants a victory in the 6 to 5 game.
The BayStars and the Carp won their first game that day.
Koichiro Yoshinaga who used to catch for the Hawks smacked a 2 run homer for the Giants on Apr 3. And although a close game, the Giants won 4 to 3 over the Swallows. However, the Giants lost 2 games after that including Apr 5, the game started by former ace pitcher Masumi Kuwata. In 3 0/3 innings, he gave up 5 runs to the Swallows.
The Dragons set a winning streak of 4 on Apr 7 by defeating the Swallows 3 to 1. It leads the Central League. The Giants won 2 straight games over the Carp. On Apr 6, Koji Uehara hurled over the distance, while the clean up blasted homeruns. And on Apr 7, Yoshinobu Takahashi's 2 run homer enabled the team to win 2 to 1. The next day, the Carp was able to beat Masaki Saito to win 7 to 3, and stop its losing streak at 3. The Swallows' new pitcher Alan Newman shut out the Dragons 2 to 0.
The Giants and the Dragons played a 4 hour 39 minute game which ended 1 to 1 tie in 12 innings on Apr 10. The next day, the Giants with Hideki Matsui's 2 run homer won 4 to 2. The Giants caught up with the Dragons in the league ranking. And the Giants finally became the sole leader winning 2 to 1. Hideki Matsui homered again, his 250th career home run in his 1000th game.
The night on Apr 13 could not been right for the Giants without Hideki Matsui. He blasted a game winning homer in the 10th inning to end the game 3 to 2. It defeated the BayStars at the Tokyo Dome.The Dragons' Ozzie Timmons who had performed poorly so far, cleaned up the bases to help his team win 7 to 0 over the Tigers. The next day, it was the Giants' Kazuhiro Kiyohara who finished the game with a 3-run homerun to defeat the BayStars 8 to 5. But on Apr 15, the Giants lost to the BayStars 4 to 5, while the Dragons defeated the Tigers again 6 to 0. The 2 teams have tied for first place again.
The Swallows' skipper Tsutomu Wakamatsu celebrated his birthday on Apr 17 by blasting the Giants 10 to 2. The next 2 games, however, the Giants won. And what was a wonder was that on Apr 19, the Giants initially were losing 0 to 5. The team has surpassed Dragons for the league lead.
The Giants' Akira Eto blasted his 7th homerun, to lead the league and to give his team a 3 to 1 win over the BayStars on Apr 20. But the next day it lost 3 to 4. Then on Apr 22, the Giants won 5 to 1.
The first Giants-Tigers game at Koshien was in the rain. And the Giants were in a mess. Tigers' 21 year old pitcher Kei Igawa succeeded to hurl over a distance for the first time. The Tigers won 6 to 1 on Apr 24. The next day marked the 1500th game between the 2 teams. The Giants clinched it 6 to 5. Runs include a 3 run homer contribution from Hideki Matsui. And on Apr 26, it was an exciting see-saw game. It went into the 10th inning. The Giants batted in 2 runs, and the Tigers almost caught up, but short by a run. The game finished 4 to 5.
The Giants won it's 3rd game in a row, by managing to defeat the Carp on Apr 28, 5 to 4. But the winning streak was halted the following day. And then on Apr 30, in a competitive game, the Giants defeated the Carp 8 to 7.
League standing as of Apr 30
1. Tokyo Yomiuri Giants
2. Yakult Swallows
3. Chunichi Dragons
4. Hanshin Tigers
5. Hiroshima Toyo Carp
6. Yokohama Bay Stars
March
The Tokyo Dome attracted a fullhouse of 55,000 for the opener on Mar 30. For the Giants,' Koji Uehara started.
And the one to catch his pitches were Shinosuke Abe, a rookie. And the rookie hit well. He batted in 4 runs.
In all, the Giants defeated the Tigers to a whooping 17 to 3.
The Dragons ceremoniously opened the game in an unusual form.
It's skipper Seiichi Hoshino was the pitcher, Koichi Tabuchi, former slugger was the catcher.
And at bat was Koji Yamamoto, manager of the Hiroshima Carp. And why the three teamed up?
They were all college stars during the same period, and remain good friend today.
The Dragons defeated the Carp 5 to 1. The Swallows won 6 to 4 against the BayStars.
The following day, the Giants and the Tigers played a see-saw game. The Tigers' Makoto Imaoka doubled in the sixth
to give his team a lead. Giants' superstar Kazuhiro Kiyohara blasted a 3-run.
But in the end, the Tigers clinched the game 9 to 7.
The Dragons won its 2nd straight game of the Carp 3 to 2. The Carp in the 9th inning had a severe loss.
Koichi Ogata who had come back from an injury which forced him out last season hurt himself again.
The game in Yokohama was rained out.
The final standing of the 2000 season
1. Tokyo Yomiuri Giants
2. Chunichi Dragons
3. Yokohama Bay Stars
4. Yakult Swallows
5. Hiroshima Toyo Carp
6. Hanshin Tigers
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