The Tokyo Yakult Swallows gathered near the mound at Jingu Stadium, grabbed Mitsuru Manaka and tossed their first-year manager into the air as the cheers of their exuberant fans rang out into the night sky.
The Birds were celebrating the club's first Central League Climax Series title. If they do this again, it'll be because they've snared an even bigger prize.
The Swallows took advantage of the Yomiuri Giants' miscues in the field, survived a couple of potential rallies, and advanced to the Japan Series with a 3-2 win in Game 4 of the Central League Climax Series final stage in front of a crowd of 34,038 on Saturday night.