Michihiro Ogasawara drove in a pair of runs yesterday and the Nippon Ham Fighters survived a late scare on their way to a 5-4 win over the Seibu Lions in the second game of their best-of-three Pacific League playoff.
Ogasawara hit a solo homer in the first inning at Seibu Dome and drove in a run in the sixth when the Fighters scored four runs to take a 5-1 lead.
"We knew there was no tomorrow for us if we lost," said Ogasawara.
"We wanted to come out and get an early lead and take the momentum away from Seibu and were able to do that."
With the win, Trey Hillman's squad evened the playoff series at one game each and will be looking to advance to the second stage against the Daiei Hawks with a win at Seibu Dome on Sunday. Seibu won the first game 10-7.
Nippon Ham starter Carlos Mirabal picked up the win after holding the Lions to four runs on 12 hits over 8-2/3 innings.
Alex Cabrera drove in a run with a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the ninth and Kazuhiro Wada made it a one-run game with a single up the middle off Mirabal that scored a pair of runs.
Nippon Ham closer Yukiya Yokoyama retired Game 1 hero Jose Fernandez with two out in the ninth to nail down the win for the Fighters.
Fernandez, who hit a grand slam in Friday's win, popped out to center fielder Tsuyoshi Shinjo to end the game.
Bayer 04 Leverkusen go into today’s match at TSG 1899 Hoffenheim stung from their first league defeat in 16 months. Leverkusen were beaten 3-2 at home by RB Leipzig before the international break, the first loss since May last year for the reigning league and cup champions. While any defeat, particularly against a likely title rival, would have disappointed coach Xabi Alonso, the way in which it happened would be most concerning. Just as they did in the Supercup against VfB Stuttgart and in the league opener to Borussia Moenchengladbach, Leverkusen scored first, but were pegged back. However, while Leverkusen rallied late to
The lights dimmed and the crowd hushed as Karoline Kristensen entered for her performance. However, this was no ordinary Dutch theater: The temperature was 80°C and the audience naked apart from a towel. Dressed in a swimsuit and to the tune of emotional music, the 21-year-old Kristensen started her routine, performed inside a large sauna, with a bed of hot rocks in the middle. For a week this month, a group of wellness practitioners, called “sauna masters,” are gathering at a picturesque health resort in the Netherlands to compete in this year’s Aufguss world sauna championships. The practice takes its name from a
Japanese players are moving to English soccer in record numbers and more look set to follow with clubs attracted by their quality, strong work ethic and value for money. Kaoru Mitoma is the standout talent of five Japanese players in the English Premier League, with eight more in the Championship and two in League One. Liverpool midfielder Wataru Endo, the captain of Japan, believes his compatriots are “being held in higher esteem” by English clubs compared with the past. “The staff at Liverpool ask me about lots of Japanese players, not necessarily with a view to a transfer, but just saying this or
Roger Federer on Wednesday said that staying involved with tennis in retirement helped him avoid feeling “like an alien” ahead of this week’s Laver Cup in Berlin. Federer, who helped create the tournament, retired at the Laver Cup in London two years ago and has since stayed involved with the competition as an ambassador. “I’m happy I went back right away to some tournaments,” the 43-year-old told reporters. “I feel I ripped the Band-Aid off quite quickly and when I walk around the tennis sites I still feel I belong there,” he said. “I don’t feel like an alien, which is a