|
|
|
LEAD: Nakajima, Wakui lead Seibu over Yomiuri in Japan Series opener
|
|
 email this
 print this
|
TOKYO, Nov. 1 (22:35) Kyodo
|
|
(EDS: UPDATING WITH DETAILS, QUOTES)
Hiroyuki Nakajima hit a tiebreaking solo homer and Hideaki Wakui
threw a one-hitter over eight innings Saturday, leading the Seibu
Lions to a 2-1 win over the Yomiuri Giants in Game 1 of the Japan
Series.
Nakajima drove a 1-1 fastball from Koji Uehara (0-1) over the
wall in right-center with two outs in the sixth inning to give Seibu
the lead for good, an inning after Taketoshi Goto connected off the
right-hander at Tokyo Dome.
Wakui (1-0) held the powerful Giants lineup to one unearned run
on one hit while striking out eight and walking two.
Uehara was equally impressive but gave up what he had to avoid
at this power hitter-friendly Tokyo Dome -- two long balls. He
allowed two runs and five hits in seven innings with eight
strikeouts, a walk and a hit batter.
''It was a great game. It was a superb pitching duel between two
aces. I'm glad we were able to win a close game,'' Seibu manager
Hisanobu Watanabe said. ''We are a young team. I hope my players keep
this momentum going.''
Alex Graman closed out the ninth after giving up a leadoff
single to Takuya Kimura.
Alex Ramirez gave Yomiuri a 1-0 lead in the fourth with a
two-out RBI double but grounded into an inning-ending double play
with two runners on in the sixth and into a game-ending double play
with the potential tying run on first.
''I allowed them to score first, but Goto-san, from my Yokohama
high school, homered to tie the game soon after,'' Wakui said. ''I
knew it would be a tight game since their ace was also on the mound.
I'm glad I was able to pitch really well.''
Wakui did not allow a runner in the first three innings before
Takahiro Suzuki reached on a fielding error by third baseman Takeya
Nakamura. Suzuki moved to second on Kimura's sacrifice bunt and
scored on Ramirez's double to right.
Nakajima, who was one of the key forces in defeating the Nippon
Ham Fighters in the second stage of the Pacific League Climax Series,
added a double in the eighth and finished 2-for-3 on the night.
''It's hard to win if we manage just one hit (against Wakui),''
Yomiuri manager Tatsunori Hara said. ''I know Uehara has things to
regret, but he entered the series in a favorable condition. On the
bright side, our relievers (Daisuke) Ochi and (Kentaro) Nishimura
were effective.''
Two left-handers are expected to start Game 2 on Sunday,
Kazuyuki Hoashi for Seibu against Hisanori Takahashi. |
|
back to headlines >>
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
