The Yomiuri Giants worked out in a mostly empty Tokyo Dome, with neither fans nor the Hanshin Tigers anywhere in sight. The Big Egg will be rocking the next time they're in it, as they square off with their oldest rivals for the right to participate in the Japan Series.
Yomiuri practiced for a little over two hours on Tuesday afternoon and will end a long layoff — Yomiuri last played Oct. 5 — on Wednesday when they meet the Tigers in Game 1 of the Central League Climax Series Final Stage. The Giants begin the series with an automatic 1-0 advantage, awarded to the CL pennant winner, with all six games, if necessary, to be played at Tokyo Dome.
There might be a little more spice to the year's final stage as the Central League's oldest and fiercest rivalry takes center stage, but Yomiuri went through the usual motions during Tuesday's practice.