2013 JAPAN SERIES: Rakuten Golden Eagles vs Yomiuri Giants

Modified on November 3, 2013


Champion:RAKUTEN GOLDEN EAGLES
4 games to 7
Most Valuable Player:Manabu Mima

November 3 at Kleenex Stadium Miyagi(audience 25,249)
Manabu Mima started for the Golden Eagles. He was able to prevent the Giants from hitting in a run with bases full in the first inning. In the bottom of that inning, Toshiya Sugiuchi hit Ginji, then gave up a 2 base hit to Andruw Jones. Casey McGehee grounded the ball. Shortstop Hayato Sakamoto fumbled the ball and a runner came home. In the 2nd inning, Takero Okajima hit in a run.Sugiuchi was then ejected from the game. Hirokazu Sawamura took over. In the 4th innning, Akihisa Makita slammed a home run. From the 7th inning, Takehiro Norimoto pitched for the Golden Eagles. In the 9th inning Masahiro Tanaka came on as the crowd roared with excitement. That's after hurling 160 pitches the previous night. He allowed 2 runners on base but was able to strike out Kenji Yano to finish the game. The Golden Eagles won 3 to 0 to become the season's number one team. Congratulations!

November 2 at Kleenex Stadium Miyagi(audience 25,271)
Back in Sendai, Masahiro Tanaka started in hopes of ending the championship series. Opposing him for the Giants, Tomoyuki Sugano. In the 2nd inning, Motohiro Shima hit in a run. Golden Eagles got in another run on Jose Lopez's inability to handle a grounded ball to first. In the 3rd inning, Casey McGehee couldn't handle the ball to his 3rd, but the Giants were unable to take advantage of the error. In the 5th, Lopez slammed a 2 run home run to equalize. Then Yoshinobu Takahashi hit in a run to take the lead. In the 6th inning, on Lopez's grounded ball, a runner came home. Ma-ku hurled until the end of the game. Its the first in 30 games he faced a loss. The game ended 4 to 2 for the Giants.

October 31 at Tokyo Dome (audience 44,995)
Tetsuya Utsumi started in the Japan Series for the 2nd time. In the 3rd inning, Takero Okajima and Ginji hit in a run consecutively The Golden Eagles starter Wataru Karashima was relieved by Takahiro Norimoto from the 6th inning. In the 7th inning, Shuichi Murata homered off Norimoto. In the 9th, Yoshinobu Takahashi started off with a 2 base hit. He was replaced by pinch runner Ryota Wakiya. He advanced to 3rd on Hayato Sakamoto's bunt. Shinnosuke Abe was walked. Norimoto faled to catch Murata's grounded ball, allowing the Giants to equalize. The game was extended. Giants closer Kentaro Nishimura walked Norimoto, the hit Kazuya Fujita's leg, walking him. Ginji hit in a run, and Andruw Jones did too on a grounded ball. The Golden Eagles won 4 to 2.

October 30 at Tokyo Dome (audience 44,968)
Before the game began, a moment of silence for former baseball great Tetsuharu Kawakami who's death was reported on the day. He was called "god" of baseball. Both teams had Americans pitching to start the game. For the Giants, Dennis Houlton. In the first inning, he lost a 3 run home run to Andruw Jones. Jim Heuser lost a run to Shuichi Murata the bottom of that inning. In the 2nd inning, the Golden Eagles hit in another run. But the Giants gradually batted in runs. In the 5th inning, Hisayoshi Chono hit in 2 runs and took the lead. Then in the 6th inning, the Golden Eagles equalized on Ryo Hijirisawa's hit. He hit off Hirokazu Sawamura. Then Sawamura was replaced by Scott Mathieson who closed the inning smoothly. In the 7th, Takayuki Terauchi hit in a run to lead the game again. The game ended 6 to 5 for the Giants.

October 29 at Tokyo Dome (audience 44,940)
Starting for the Giants, Toshiya Sugiuchi. In the 2nd inning, he was caught by Golden Eagles batters. Kazuya Fujita hit in 2 runs. Then Ginji hit in 2 more runs. Golden Eagles starter Manabu Mima pitched well. But he was forced off the mound in the 6th inning after Shinnosuke Abe hit the ball towards him, striking his leg. In the 8th inning, Andruw Jones hit in a run. The bottom of the inning, at last the Giants side,Kenji Yano hit a home run. The Golden Eagles closer was Takashi Saito. The game ended 5 to 1 for the Golden Eagles.

October 27 at Kleenex Stadium Miyagi(audience 25,219)
The starting pitchers, for the Golden Eagles, top game winner this season, Masahiro Tanaka. For the Giants, rookie Tomoyuki Sugano. Ma-kun faced a tough 5th inning, loading bases. But he managed to finish the inning unharmed. In the 6th inning, Ginji hit in a run. In the 7th inning, with runner on 3rd, Kazuya Fujita grounded the ball and slid into 1st as Jose Lopez caught the ball. The 1st base umpire called it safe. Then in the 8th inning, the Giants Takayuki Terauchi slammmed a home run off Ma-kun. In the end, Ma-kun hurled over the distance. The Golden Eagles win 2 to 1.

October 26 at Kleenex Stadium Miyagi (audience 25209)
Its the first time Japan Series are held in Tohoku. The starting pitcher for the Golden Eagles, Takahiro Norimoto. For the Giants vetern pitcher,Tetsuya Utsumi. In the 5th inning, Hisayoshi Chono hit in a run. In the 8th Shuichi Murata homered. The Golden Eagles had chances with runners on base. But none could come home. The Giants had Scott Mathieson take over from Utsumi, then Tetsuya Yamaguchi and ended with Kentaro Nishimura to win 2 to 0.



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