ID :
30684
Mon, 11/17/2008 - 11:16
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/30684
The shortlink copeid
Baseball: Seibu wins Asia Series on Sato's walk-off double+
TOKYO, Nov. 16 Kyodo -
Tomoaki Sato doubled in the game-winning run in the bottom of the ninth inning
as the Seibu Lions edged the Uni-President Lions of Taiwan 1-0 Sunday to win
their first Asia Series title.
The Pacific League and Japan Series champions became the fourth Japanese team
in as many years to win the Asia Series when Yoshihito Ishii, who had drawn a
two-out walk, scored all the way from first on Sato's soft liner to left-center
off Pan Wei-lun at Tokyo Dome.
The Lotte Marines won the inaugural Asia Series title in 2005, followed by
victories by the Nippon Ham Fighters in 2006 and the Chunichi Dragons last
year.
In the final at Tokyo Dome, Seibu starter Hideaki Wakui scattered four hits in
6-2/3 innings, striking out 10 and walking three.
Three relievers held Uni-President's bats in check to set the stage for a
dramatic finale. Shinya Okamoto picked up the win with a 1-2-3 ninth.
''Our desire to be No. 1 in Asia prevailed in the end,'' Seibu manager Hisanobu
Watanabe said. ''We won with a team effort. The quality of play has been
improving in Asia and I knew there would be no easy game.''
''Facing a Taiwanese team in the final was something special because I built
the foundation for my career as a manager through my experience in Taiwan,''
added Watanabe, who had a three-year stint as a player-coach in Taiwanese
professional baseball from 1999.
Sato was named the series MVP. He went 2-for-4 with a pair of doubles in the
final.
''I want to thank Ishii for running hard in the ninth. We had some pressure to
keep Japanese clubs' winning streak alive in the Asia Series. I'm pleased we
were able to toss our manager into the air for victory celebrations,'' Sato
said.
Uni-President manager Lu Wen-sheng was left to rue the decision to employ an
outfield shift designed for Sato in the decisive inning.
''Sato tends to hit the ball to the right side, so we moved our center fielder
in that direction in the ninth inning. That turned out to be a mistake,'' Lu
said. ''We fell short but I'm glad we made it this far.''
The four-team series features the champions from Japan, Taiwan, South Korea and
China. The SK Wyverns of South Korea and China's Tianjin Lions were eliminated
after round-robin play.
==Kyodo
Tomoaki Sato doubled in the game-winning run in the bottom of the ninth inning
as the Seibu Lions edged the Uni-President Lions of Taiwan 1-0 Sunday to win
their first Asia Series title.
The Pacific League and Japan Series champions became the fourth Japanese team
in as many years to win the Asia Series when Yoshihito Ishii, who had drawn a
two-out walk, scored all the way from first on Sato's soft liner to left-center
off Pan Wei-lun at Tokyo Dome.
The Lotte Marines won the inaugural Asia Series title in 2005, followed by
victories by the Nippon Ham Fighters in 2006 and the Chunichi Dragons last
year.
In the final at Tokyo Dome, Seibu starter Hideaki Wakui scattered four hits in
6-2/3 innings, striking out 10 and walking three.
Three relievers held Uni-President's bats in check to set the stage for a
dramatic finale. Shinya Okamoto picked up the win with a 1-2-3 ninth.
''Our desire to be No. 1 in Asia prevailed in the end,'' Seibu manager Hisanobu
Watanabe said. ''We won with a team effort. The quality of play has been
improving in Asia and I knew there would be no easy game.''
''Facing a Taiwanese team in the final was something special because I built
the foundation for my career as a manager through my experience in Taiwan,''
added Watanabe, who had a three-year stint as a player-coach in Taiwanese
professional baseball from 1999.
Sato was named the series MVP. He went 2-for-4 with a pair of doubles in the
final.
''I want to thank Ishii for running hard in the ninth. We had some pressure to
keep Japanese clubs' winning streak alive in the Asia Series. I'm pleased we
were able to toss our manager into the air for victory celebrations,'' Sato
said.
Uni-President manager Lu Wen-sheng was left to rue the decision to employ an
outfield shift designed for Sato in the decisive inning.
''Sato tends to hit the ball to the right side, so we moved our center fielder
in that direction in the ninth inning. That turned out to be a mistake,'' Lu
said. ''We fell short but I'm glad we made it this far.''
The four-team series features the champions from Japan, Taiwan, South Korea and
China. The SK Wyverns of South Korea and China's Tianjin Lions were eliminated
after round-robin play.
==Kyodo
