FUKUOKA -- This is supposed to be the "O-N" Series between the two megastars of yesteryear -- Daiei Hawks manager Sadaharu Oh and Shigeo Nagashima, the Yomiuri Giants' skipper -- but the hero of Game 5 on Friday was a 25-year-old rookie who wasn't even born when the two managers were in their heyday with the Giants.
Yomiuri first-year pitcher Hisanori Takahashi rubbished the Hawks' offense with a two-hit shutout and the Giants completed the job with three home runs to thrash Daiei 6-0 at the Fukuoka Dome.
The Giants went ahead 3-2 in the best-of-seven series after an 0-2 start and now need only one more victory to win the Japan Series for the first time since 1994.