Yesterday saw the one-game playoff between Eastern League champs Yomiuri Giants and Western League winners Chunichi Dragons take place in Toyama. In front of 14,150 fans, the Dragons held the Giants to 2 hits and won 2-0.
The Giants used Yuya Kubo as their starter in what I can only guess was a cynical bid to win the game. Kubo seems to have good numbers with the big club over the past 6 seasons, and he was sent down most recently on September 28th after the baby Giants had finished their season. So I suspect he was sent down just to pitch in this game.
Kubo did well, going the full 9 innings, giving up only 6 hits, but Chunichi's pitchers were slightly better. Junki Ito gave up two hits and 5 walks through 5 1/3 but left with the bases loaded and a 1-0 lead. Yoshihiro Suzuki, another pitcher with plenty of top league experience, came in and got two outs to keep the Giants from scoring in the 6th. Suzuki and two other relievers were then perfect the rest of the way and a pinch-hit homer from veteran Kazuki Inoue added an insurance run to give the Dragons the 2-0 victory.
Glad to see the Giants lose and hoping that their big-league team suffers the same fate in the upcoming Climax Series. Also good to see over 14,000 fans there and now I'm wondering if Toyama could support a full-time minor-league (or even NPB) club? Or was this just because it was the Giants playing?
Best,
Sean
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