Norichika Aoki went 1-for-4 to finish the season with a Central League record 202 hits and claimed the league batting title with a .344 average in the Yakult Swallows' 5-2 win over the Yokohama BayStars on Friday. Aoki, who has become the first CL player to have 200 hits in a single season, singled to right and scored a run for a 3-1 lead in the third inning on a wild pitch by Yoshihiro Doi (10-11) at Jingu Stadium in the final regular season game.
(Kyodo News)