2009 JAPAN SERIES: Yomiuri Giants vs Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters


Champion: Yomiuri Giants
4 games to 6
Most Valuable Player:Shinnosuke Abe

November 7 at Sapporo Dome (audience ???)
A nightmare for Shun Tohno who started for the Giants. In the first inning, after taking 2 outs, Shinji Takahashi's batted ball hit his wrist. Tohno could not pitch. He was replaced by Tetsuya Utsumi. Utsumi pitched well. In the 2nd inning, Shinnosuke Abe hit in a run. In the 6th, the Fighters Atsunori Inaba fumbled the ball, giving the Giants another run. In the 9th inning, the Fighters 2 runners made it on base, but Marc Kroon managed to keep them from coming home. The Giants won 2 to 0. And with this win, won the Japan championship title for the first time in 7 years and for the 21st time.

November 5 at Tokyo Dome (audience 45,160)
The most exciting part of the game happened near the end. With the Fighters leading, the Giants pinch hitter Noriyoshi Ohmichi hit in a run to equalize. Then the Fighters Shinji Takahashi homered to again lead. In the bottom of the 9th inning, the Giants Yoshiyuki Kamei homered. Then Shinnosuke Abe slammed a big one to finish the game 3 to 2.

November 4 at Tokyo Dome (audience 45,133)
In the 4th inning,the Fighters Shinji Takahashi hit in 2 runs. He later homered. The Giants tried to catch up with a 3 run home run by Alex Ramirez, but didn't quite. The game ended 8 to 4 for the Fighters.

November 3 at Tokyo Dome (audience 45,150)
Former US President George W Bush hurled the opening pitch while former Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi looked on. It was a one bound pitch. He gave Giants starter Wirfin Obispo a pat. It was a tough start for Obispo who gave up a homer to Atsunori Inaba, then to Eiichi Koyano. But the Giants Lee Seung Yeop and Shinnosuke each homered. Michihiro Ogasawara had his first RBI hit in this series. The Fighters equalized in the 5th inning on Kensuke Tanaka's home run. But the Giants secured a lead agains with Ogasawara's 2 RBI. The Giants won 7 to 4.

November 1 at Sapporo Dome (audience 40,718)
The Giants starter was Tetsuya Utsumi. For the Fighters, surprisingly Yu Darvish who has not recovered from his injury. Utsumi was in trouble in the 3rd inning. He gave up a home run to Atsunori Inaba. Then Termmel Sledge hit in a run. The Giants Yoshiyuki Kamei slammed a 2 run home run in the 4th. Darvish lasted 6 inning, and the Fighters closures kept the Giants from hitting in more runs. The Fighters won 4 to 2.

October 31 at Sapporo Dome (audience 40,650)
Starting for the Fighters, Masaru Takeda. For the Giants, Dicky Gonzalez. The Giants hit in a run first with a homer by Yoshitomo Tani in the 2nd inning. The Fighters Termmel Sledge immediately homered the bottom of that inning to equalize. In the 5th inning, on Hayato Sakamoto's double, Yoshitomo Tani and Shinnosuke Abe came home. The 9th inning was exciting. The Fighter Shinji Takahashi hit in a run. And Sledge was up to bat after him. But Sledge was walked. Eiichi Koyano struck out. The game ended 4 to 3 for the Giants.



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