Yoshihiro Maru stood at the plate with two outs, a runner on third and Yuki Nishi staring in from the mound. The game was tied in the sixth inning and the Yomiuri Giants and their fans were hoping for a hit. Some, perhaps, may even have dared to dream of a home run.
So when Maru dropped down a bunt, it took everyone by surprise. When the runner scored, the shock morphed into jubilation and the Giants rode that wave all the way to the Japan Series.
Maru's gambit broke the tie in the sixth, Alex Guerrero provided some breathing room with a two-run homer in the seventh and the Kyojin closed out the Central League Climax Series Final Stage with a 4-1 win over the Hanshin Tigers in Game 4 on Sunday afternoon at Tokyo Dome to book a spot in the Japan Series.