Valentine's Marines win PL pennant

Matchup stats: CLM || FDH

Japanese Pro Yakyu 2005

The Chiba Lotte Marines storm the field after clinching the Pacific League title on Monday, Oct. 17 (Photo Source: Sports Hochi)

Mainichi Daily News -- Bobby Valentine's Chiba Lotte Marines are going to the Japan Series for the first time in 31 years.
Tomoya Satozaki doubled in a pair of runs in the top of the eighth inning as the Marines defeated the SoftBank Hawks 3-2 in Game 5 of the PL's second stage playoffs on Monday.
October 17: Full Story
Kyodo: Lotte reaches first Japan Series in 31 years
Jim Allen: Marines march on
Photos: Matsunaka ends drought with a two-out RBI single in the 3rd;
Fukuura smokes a run-scoring double off Sugiuchi in the 6th;
You're safe! Fukuura scores the winning run ahead of Matoba's tag in the 8th;
Valentine gets tossed into the air.
More: Chiba Lotte Marines photo gallery

Zuleta homers twice as Hawks level series
By Jim Allen, Daily Yomiuri -- The Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks are alive, kicking and just a tie game away from clinching their fourth Pacific League title in seven seasons.
Julio Zuleta homered twice and drove in all his team's runs on Sunday as the Hawks beat the Chiba Lotte Marines 3-2 to tie the second stage of the PL playoffs at two games apiece.
October 16: Full Story
Kyodo: Zuleta homers send PL playoff to decisive Game 5
Japan Times: Zuleta's shots tie up series
Also: Live PL playoff game a hit for TV Tokyo

Late charge helps Hawks avoid sweep
Japan Times -- Munenori Kawasaki drove in the winning run Saturday as the SoftBank Hawks completed a stunning last-minute rally over the Chiba Lotte Marines to win Game 3 of the Pacific League's second-stage playoffs 5-4.
Facing elimination, the Hawks took advantage of a meltdown by Lotte closer Masahide Kobayashi, who gave up four runs in the bottom of the ninth, including a bases-loaded walk to Julio Zuleta that tied the game.
October 15: Full Story
Kyodo: Hawks rally to beat Marines in Game 3
Jim Allen: Hawks still flying
Wayne Graczyk: Revitalized Chiba Lotte franchise alive and well in Makuhari
Also: PL playoff skippers take swing at long layoff

Marines push Hawks to brink of elimination
JapanBall.com/Kyodo -- Matt Franco turned the game around with a two-run double in the 6th inning and Naoyuki Shimizu pitched seven strong innings as Lotte edged SoftBank 3-2 in Game 2 of the second stage of the PL playoffs on Thursday.
October 13: Full Story
AP: M's edge closer to Japan Series trip
Jim Allen: Lotte closes in on first PL pennant in 31 years
Photo: Matt Franco gets a 1-0, high and away forkball from Kazumi Saito and drives it the opposite way for the key two-run double in the sixth inning.

Agbayani's single lifts Lotte in series opener
JapanBall.com/Kyodo -- Benny Agbayani hit a two-run tiebreaking single in the eighth inning as the Lotte Marines pulled away in a 4-2 victory over the SoftBank Hawks in Game 1 on Wednesday.
October 12: Full Story
AP: Agbayani plays hero once again
Jim Allen: Marines boast playoff precision
CL: Hara looks to free agents to boost Giants

M's sweep Lions, move on to face Hawks
By Stephen Ellsesser, Japan Times -- Hiroyuki Kobayashi took a two-hitter into the eighth inning, striking out nine, as Lotte completed a first-stage Pacific League playoff series sweep with a 3-1 win over Seibu at Chiba Marine Stadium on Sunday.
October 9: Full Story
Jim Allen: Marines march on
Andrew Mitchell: Marines, Hawks to vie for pennant
Kyodo: Marines oust Lions, advance to 2nd stage
Also: Valentine intends to stay with Marines
Photos: M's advance to the next round;
Bobby Valentine salutes the "greatest fans in the world";
Seibu skipper Tsutomu Ito congratulates Valentine on the victory;
Benny Agbayani lines an RBI single in the 6th.
Dave Wiggins: Little things mean a lot

Marines edge Lions in PL playoff opener
JapanBall.com/Kyodo -- Matt Franco singled home the go-ahead run Saturday as the Chiba Lotte Marines edged the Seibu Lions 2-1 in Game 1 of the PL playoffs.
Franco singled to center off Koji Mitsui (0-1) with none out and runners at the corners in the bottom of the eighth inning after Shunsuke Watanabe and Daisuke Matsuzaka both held their opponents to one run over seven innings.
October 8: Full Story
Japan Times: Marines grind out 2-1 win
Jim Allen: Marines shine on defense
Photo: Franco lines a single to center off a 1-1 fastball up and in from Lion lefthander Koji Mitsui in the 8th inning

Lotte looks to recapture former postseason glory
Daily Yomiuri -- The Chiba Lotte Marines, in the hunt for their first Japan Series berth since 1974, are once more slugging it out with the Pacific League's heavyweights.
October 7: Full Story
Related: Marines pumped for long-awaited return to postseason
Jim Allen: Hawks's Wada gets back to speed