Opinion: From lowly B s to Japan Series champion Buffaloes torontoobserver.ca - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from torontoobserver.ca Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Although the Japan Series championship was within reach, Orix Buffaloes manager Satoshi Nakajima did not give a special pep talk to the team or devise a new strategy.
Sachiya Yamasaki and four relievers combine on a one-hit shutout to move the Orix Buffaloes to within one win of their franchise s first Japan Series title in 26 years with a 3-0 Game 6 win over the Yakult Swallows.
Yutaro Sugimoto drove in the only run in the third inning, and Orix ended Yakult pitcher Masanori Ishikawa's chance of winning Game 4 in back-to-back years.