Central League race hits stretch turn

Today's schedule

Japanese Pro Yakyu 2008

Nippon Ham closer Micheal Nakamura jumps in celebration as first baseman Michihiro Ogasawara completes the game-ending double play to give the Fighters their first regular season title since 1981 on Wednesday, Sept. 27 (Photo Source: Sankei Sports)

Interleague standings

Jim Allen, Daily Yomiuri -- Time is not on the Hanshin Tigers' side, but an impressive 17-4 run in September has left them in position to catch Chunichi should the Dragons stumble.
October 1-2: Full Story
Sept. 30: Yamamoto helps Chunichi halt Hanshin's 9-game winning streak
Sept. 29: Tigers turn up heat on Dragons
Kyodo: Ogasawara wins two titles, K. Saito claims pitching triple crown as PL ends season

Fighters clinch first place in Pacific League
Asahi Shimbun -- Trey Hillman's Nippon Ham Fighters took care of business Wednesday evening at Sapporo Dome, beating the SoftBank Hawks 4-1 behind a pair of 4th-inning home runs from Kensuke Tanaka and Fernando Seguignol.
The result means that the Fighters are guaranteed to finish first in the PL standings, receiving a bye into the second round of playoffs.
September 27: Full Story
John E. Gibson: Seibu's win over Lotte not enough
Jim Allen: Kanemura's cow reflects odd system
Daily Yomiuri: Valentine confident about signing top high school pick

Golden Eagles land top prospect Tanaka
Jim Allen, Daily Yomiuri -- Masahiro Tanaka, the most sought-after player in pro baseball's high school draft, was scooped up by the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles.
September 25: Full Story
CL: Giants greenlight Kuwata's departure
PL: Seibu has chance to clinch 1st place Tuesday
Also: Kanemura hit with playoff suspension for bashing Hillman

Benny, Marines slam Fighters
Jim Allen, Daily Yomiuri -- Benny Agbayani broke up a tie game with a seventh-inning grand slam as the Chiba Lotte Marines left home winners with an 8-4 victory over the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters.
September 24: Full Story
Related: Nippon Ham to question Kanemura for criticizing Hillman

Marines prevail behind Satozaki, Swallows' gaffes
Jim Allen, Daily Yomiuri -- Although it was a battle between the teams with the best interleague records, the Tokyo Yakult Swallows limped out of Chiba 4-2 losers on Thursday after suffering a pair of self-inflicted wounds.
May 31 - June 1: Full Story
Earlier: Nine-run inning helps Giants escape 5-game slide