CHIBA — The Chiba Lotte Marines fans in the outfield stands sang and danced away two years' worth of frustration long after the final regular-season game of the year.
Who can blame them? It feels good to be back in the playoffs.
Toshiaki Imae and Saburo Omura each drove in two runs, pitcher Yoshihisa Naruse rebounded from a rocky start, and Marines clinched the final spot in the Pacific League Climax Series with a 5-4 win over the Orix Buffaloes on the final day of the PL season.