John Bowker kept his torrid postseason run going, and Tetsuya Utsumi turned in another ace-worthy performance in game that was far more eventful than even the lopsided final score suggested.
If the Yomiuri Giants can win another game, Bowker, Utsumi and Co. can bet on having a few more wild nights ahead.
Utsumi threw eight strong innings, Bowker hit a two-run home run in the second, Ken Kato incurred the wrath of the crowd in the fourth, and the Giants moved within one game of clinching the title after a 10-2 rout of the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters in Game 5 of the Japan Series on Thursday night at Sapporo Dome.