Samurai Japan got its new era started with a dramatic finish.
Shogo Sakakura connected on a game-tying sacrifice fly before Makoto Kadowaki hit a sayonara single as Japan rallied from a run down in the 10th inning to beat South Korea 4-3 in the Asia Professional Baseball Championship final on Sunday night at Tokyo Dome.
"I'm really happy we were able to win in front of so many fans today," Japan manager Hirokazu Ibata said, addressing a crowd of 41,883 at the Big Egg.