The Hanshin Tigers were behind the Yomiuri Giants before even stepping on the field, but the Kansai club didn't waste any time getting even.

Mauro Gomez hit a two-run home run in the first inning, pitcher Shintaro Fujinami avoided a collapse in the seventh, and the Tigers opened the Central League Climax Series Final Stage with a 4-1 win over the Giants in front of a crowd of 44,871 on Wednesday night at Tokyo Dome.

The Giants entered the series with an automatic one-game advantage, by virtue of winning the pennant, but things are all square at 1-1 after the Tigers' win.