The introduction of the Climax Series in the Central League this year gave the Chunichi Dragons a new lease on life and they're making sure they make the most of it.
Motonobu Tanishige led a 14-hit attack and Kenshin Kawakami got the job done on the mound and at the plate as the Dragons pushed the Yomiuri Giants to the brink of elimination with a 7-4 win on Friday night in front of 45,074 fans at Tokyo Dome.
The Dragons, who in past years would have been automatically shut out of the Japan Series with a second-place finish in the regular season, are now just a win away from a second consecutive appearance in Japan's version of the Fall Classic.