The Hiroshima Carp clinched their second Japan Series berth in three years on Friday with a 5-1 victory over the Yomiuri Giants in Game 3 of the Central League Climax Series Final Stage.
The Carp started the six-game final stage at Mazda Stadium with a one-win advantage as league champions, and needed to win just three games to knock off the Giants, who finished the regular season in third place. In the Japan Series, starting on Oct. 27, the Carp will face the winner of the Pacific League's final stage between the Seibu Lions and Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks.
"The players came into this short championship series so well prepared, and then played so well," said Carp manager Koichi Ogata, whose team has won the CL for three straight years but fell last season in the CLCS Final Stage. "I'm extremely grateful to them."