SAPPORO -- The Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters needed only one chance to win their first Pacific League championship since 1981.
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| The Agony and Ecstasy: Atsunori Inaba of the Fighters (center) celebrates with teammates after Hokkaido Nippon Ham clinched its first Pacific League pennant in 25 years, while devastated Fukuoka Softbank pitcher Kazumi Saito (left photo) crouches down on the mound. The Fighters beat the Hawks 1-0 at Sapporo Dome on Thursday in Game 2 of the second-stage PL playoffs to go through to the Japan Series, where they will face the Chunichi Dragons. KYODO PHOTOS |
Nippon Ham didn't get its first runner in scoring position until the ninth inning, and Atsunori Inaba hit into a fielder's choice that scored Hichori Morimoto from second base as the Fighters beat the Fukuoka Softbank Hawks 1-0 in Game 2 of the second-stage PL playoffs on Thursday at Sapporo Dome, completing a series sweep.