SAPPORO — Terrmel Sledge literally dealt the Eagles a sledgehammer blow.
The Game 1 hero stunned the masses once again with a long ball late to help the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters cruise past the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles 9-4 in Game 4 of the Pacific League Climax Series second stage on Saturday afternoon.
The Fighters, who had an automatic one-win advantage, seized their fourth victory of the best-of-six series and clinched the third Japan Series appearance in four years.