By Jason Pan
Japan’s Yomiuri Giants are crowned the club champions of Asia, when they defeated the Lamigo Monkeys 6-3 in the final of Asia Series this past weekend in Busan, Korea.
Giants’ starting pitcher Ryosuke Miyaguni baffled Lamigo hitters through six innings, yielding only one run to pocket the win.
The big bats of Japanese NPB champions seize this game early on, scoring 4 runs in the 2nd inning against Lamigo’s American starter Paul Phillips.
With two runners on, Yoshihito Ishii drove them home on a double. Two batters later, backup catcher Kazunari Sanematsu slammed a two-run homer to double the lead at 4-0.
Representing as champions of Taiwanese CPBL, Lamigo Monkeys replied in the 4th frame, with clean-up man Lin Chih-Sheng blasting a solo homer for the 4-1 scoreline at that point.
Thereafter, Yomiuri team coasted home with one run each in the 6th and 7th innings to stretch the lead.
Lamigo could only muster two runs in their final turn at-bat in the 9th, for the 6-3 outcome.
For getting an RBI-hit in each of Giants’ three victories, Yomiuri shortstop Hayato Sakamoto was selected as the tournament’s MVP.
It is the first Asia Series crown for the Yomiuri Giants, and the fifth title for Japan’s representative clubs in this competition.
For their efforts, the Giants are awarded $500 milliion Korean Won (~ USD 460,000) in top prize money.
The Lamigo Monkeys received $300 million Korean Won (~ USD 276,000) for the 2nd place finish.
