Despite a two-week layoff and missing some players due to injuries, the young Lions silenced the skeptics with a night of offensive fireworks.
Led by shortstop Hiroyuki Nakajima, the Seibu offense kept attacking Hokkaido Nippon Ham starter Ryan Glynn early and often as the league-leading Lions trounced the Fighters 10-3 in Game 1 of the second stage of the Pacific League Climax Series at Omiya Park Baseball Stadium on Friday night.
Thanks to a newly installed rule that states the regular-season champion enters the series with one-win advantage, the PL pennant-winning Lions are now tow victories away from making a trip to the Japanese version of the Fall Classic.