The Fukuoka Softbank Hawks captured their second straight league Pacific League pennant on Thursday and the 19th in franchise history after a 5-3 win over the Seibu Lions.
Under rookie skipper Kimiyasu Kudo, the Hawks cruised to the finish line, clinching the pennant with 16 games to spare. The pennant victory is the fastest in PL history. The Nankai Hawks (now Softbank) did it on Sept. 19, 1964 and Orix on the same day in 1995.
This is a far cry from last season, when a disastrous September meant the Hawks couldn'tclinch until beating the Orix Buffaloes in 10 innings in their final regular-season game.