The Hanshin Tigers had their bags packed earlier in the week, they just didn't know if they were headed for the playoffs or the offseason.

The Chunichi Dragons provided the answer on Wednesday night with a 3-0 win over the Carp in Hiroshima that secured Hanshin's place in the first-stage of the Central League Climax Series as the third-place team.

"You just gotta get in," said Tom O'Malley, one of the team's hitting coaches. "Then, anything can happen."