By Jason Pan, in Chinese Taipei
Yomiuri Giants, the Japanese champions, shut out the Lotte Giants of South Korea 4-0 on Saturday and advanced to the final of the 2012 Asia Series.
They will face the Lamigo Monkeys, the titlist from Taiwanese pro league CPBL, on Sunday to determine the club champions of Asia in 2012.
Yomiuri starting pitcher Sawamura Hirokazu tossed 7 scoreless innings to record the win over the host, the Busan-based Lotte Giants.
Sawamura left for reliever Takagi Kyosuke to handle the 8th frame. Then it was Yomiuri Giants’ reliable closer Nishimura Kentarou to take care of the 9th inning and preserve the 5-hit shut out.
The Japanese champions from Tokyo banged out 11 hits to score 5 runs for the victory.
In the previous contest, Yomiuri crushed Perth Heat from Australia by a score of 7-1.
In a surprise result from Friday, the Taoyuan-based Lamigo Monkeys from CPBL spoiled the party for Korean fans, by knocking out the KBO champions Samsung Lions 3-0.
It was an off-form performance for the defending champions Samsung Lions, as they could not get anything going against the Lamigo’s American starter, Mike Loree Jr.
Loree, formerly with double-A team of Pittsburgh Pirates, went the distance for the shut-out win. He was outstanding in striking out 11, yielding 3 hits and no walks through 9 innings.
DH Lin Hung-Yu clubbed a home run from an offering by Lions’ starter Bae Young Soo in the 4th frame for Lamigo to lead 1-0 at that point. Outfielder Tsan Chih-Yao drove in a pair of runs with a single in the 7th inning to account for the scoring.
In the Lamigo Monkey’s previous game, they blasted 3 home runs to overpower the China Stars 14-1 with the game called after the 7th inning on the 10-run mercy rule.
Korea’s Lotte Giants did manage one win, they defeated Perth Heat 6-1 in Game 2 of the Asia Series.
In the night game from Saturday, the Samsung Lions took out their frustration on the China Stars with a 9-0 victory.
