Dragons score seven in 1st, nab series lead

NAGOYA — It's probably a good thing the Nagoya Dome scoreboard stopped working during the bottom half of the first inning on Tuesday. It wouldn't have been able to keep up anyway.

Chunichi Dragons infielder Norihiro Nakamura reacts after hitting a run-scoring double in the first inning of Game 3 of the Japan Series against the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters on Tuesday at Nagoya Dome. The Dragons won 9-1 to take a 2-1 series lead. KYODO PHOTO

The Chunichi Dragons batted around in a seven-run first to give starter Kenta Asakura his first win of the postseason as the hosts routed the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters 9-1 in Game 3 of the Japan Series in front of 38,068 fans at the Dragon's home stadium.

Every Chunichi starter had a hit in the first frame except Masahiko Morino, who walked and flew out to left, and Asakura, who successfully executed a sacrifice bunt. The Dragons hit just about everything the Fighters threw at them and finished the game with 12 hits.

"This is the type of game we like to play throughout the season," Chunichi manager Hiromitsu Ochiai said. "Since the Climax Series we've taken it one game at a time and will continue to do that for the remainder of the Series."

The victory leaves Chunichi just two wins away from capturing its second Japan Series title in franchise history. The Dragons have a 7-1 record this year's playoffs, and their latest offensive explosion keeps alive their hopes of clinching the series at home.

"I feel we're in good shape after splitting the two games in Sapporo and winning the first game here," Dragons catcher Motonobu Tanishige said. "We'll be feeling good going into tomorrow's game and hope we can wrap up the series here in Nagoya."

Game 4 of the Japan Series is set for Wednesday night at 6:10.

In his first start since Oct. 7, Asakura (1-0) held the Fighters to one run over seven innings while striking out four.

"After I got that big lead, it was easy for me," Asakura said. "I was very comfortable on the mound from the second inning until I came out in the seventh."

Walking too many batters got the Nippon Ham pitchers in trouble early in Game 2.

On Tuesday, Chunichi simply slugged its way into the lead. After Morino, who batted third, drew a one-out walk in the first inning, the Dragons reeled off seven consecutive hits with six Dragons combining to drive in seven runs during that span.

Their seven consecutive hits set a new Japan Series record.

Aside from Yu Darvish's performance in Game 1, Nippon Ham's pitching staff has not been able to slow down Chunichi's offense. After being held to just one run in the opener, the Dragons have outscored the Fighters 17-2 in the last two games.

Nippon Ham starter Masaru Takeda lasted just one-third of an inning after hitting leadoff hitter in the first. He allowed five runs on three hits.

Takeda, however, was solid in the regular season, going 9-4 with a 2.54 ERA, but has struggled in the playoffs. In three appearances he is 0-3 and has given up 11 runs.

He was relieved by Brian Sweeney, who also lasted just one-third of an inning after giving up four hits and being charged with two runs.

Yoshinori Tateyama took over for Sweeney and got the Fighters out of the first before giving up two runs in the second.