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2ND LD: Giants down Fighters in Game 6 to win Japan Series title
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SAPPORO, Nov. 7 Kyodo
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(EDS: ADDING QUOTES, DETAILS)
The Yomiuri Giants beat the Nippon Ham Fighters 2-0 in Game 6
Saturday to claim their first Japan Series title in seven years.
The Giants won the best-of-seven series four games to two and
were crowned champions for the 21st time. Nippon Ham failed in its
bid for its first title since 2006.
''We became the Japan Series champion today but we were up
against a great Fighters team managed by (Masataka) Nashida. We feel
proud to be Japan Series champions,'' said Yomiuri manager Tatsunori
Hara. ''It was a long season and we are happy that we could finish it
by winning the Japan Series. We were not wrong in our endeavor.''
Yomiuri got on the scoreboard in the second after the Fighters
missed an opportunity in the opening frame.
Yoshiyuki Kamei had a one-out double to left-center and moved to
third on a grounder to the pitcher. Shinnosuke Abe, who hit a
walk-off homer to win Game 5 and was named the series MVP, doubled
over the head of center fielder Yoshio Itoi to make it 1-0.
''This was a tough series. We put everything into coming back to
win the series this year,'' said Abe, referring to the Giants' 3-2
loss in Game 7 of the Japan Series against the Seibu Lions in 2008.
''We all worked together to get this Japan Series victory. I
feel a lot of appreciation for all those who worked behind the
scenes. We finally got what we worked so hard for. Thank you to the
fans for all their support,'' he said.
In the sixth, Tetsuya Matsumoto had a two-out single and scored
all the way from first when right fielder Atsunori Inaba, usually
known for his solid defensive ability, slipped while trying to field
Michihiro Ogasawara's single.
Yomiuri starter Shun Tono was hit in the right hand in the
bottom of the first by Shinji Takahashi's line drive and had to leave
the game. Lefty Tetsuya Utsumi (1-1) took over and threw 4-2/3
scoreless innings in relief for the win.
The Fighters had several chances to score but failed to
capitalize. They put runners in scoring position in six innings but
kept coming up empty.
The Fighters almost came through against closer Marc Kroon in
the ninth. And the right-hander had to settle down to keep his focus
despite the thunderous roar of the Fighters crowd when he got in a
two-on jam with one out at Sapporo Dome.
Tomohiro Nioka led off the inning with a double into left and
pinch-hitter Naoto Inada drew a one-out walk. But Kroon struck out
Inaba and cleanup hitter Takahashi to end it.
''A lot of things are going through my mind. I wish that my
(deceased) grandmother could see me at a moment like this. This is
the ultimate to pitch in the last game and be on the mound and strike
out the No. 4 batter. It doesn't get better than that,'' said Kroon,
who had the last four outs for his third save of the series.
Masaru Takeda (0-2) allowed just two runs -- one unearned -- and
six hits in 7-2/3 innings.
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