Final Climax Series seed comes down to last night
The Seibu Lions didn’t scratch out a run when they needed one, but they pitched their way to a final-night of Pacific League drama.
The Lions put runners on over the final three innings of a 2-2, 11-inning tie Monday night against the Lotte Marines at The Q, but failed to cash in on their opportunities.
Stopper Kazuhisa Makita worked three sharp innings to close it out, and now the entire season comes down to the Lions against the Nippon Ham Fighters, while the Orix Buffaloes play host to the SoftBank Hawks.
The 67-67-9 Lions need to beat Mitsuo Yoshikawa -- not Yu Darvish -- in a game at home Tuesday, while the Orix Buffaloes 69-67-7 play host to league-winning SoftBank with 18-game winner D.J. Houlton on the mound.
A victory by both means the Buffaloes grab the third and final PL playoff berth. If the Buffaloes win, they’re in. Seibu needs a loss by Orix and a victory over second-place Nippon Ham to best Orix in winning percentage. Both games start at 6 p.m.
Final Climax Series seed comes down to last night
The Seibu Lions didn’t scratch out a run when they needed one, but they pitched their way to a final-night of Pacific League drama.
The Lions put runners on over the final three innings of a 2-2, 11-inning tie Monday night against the Lotte Marines at The Q, but failed to cash in on their opportunities.
Stopper Kazuhisa Makita worked three sharp innings to close it out, and now the entire season comes down to the Lions against the Nippon Ham Fighters, while the Orix Buffaloes play host to the SoftBank Hawks.
The 67-67-9 Lions need to beat Mitsuo Yoshikawa -- not Yu Darvish -- in a game at home Tuesday, while the Orix Buffaloes 69-67-7 play host to league-winning SoftBank with 18-game winner D.J. Houlton on the mound.
A victory by both means the Buffaloes grab the third and final PL playoff berth. If the Buffaloes win, they’re in. Seibu needs a loss by Orix and a victory over second-place Nippon Ham to best Orix in winning percentage. Both games start at 6 p.m.