Lions come from behind to win Japan Series

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Japanese Pro Yakyu 2009

Saitama Seibu Lions - Nippon Ichi! (Photo Source: jiji.com )

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Japan Times (Kyodo) -- Hiroshi Hirao singled in the go-ahead run in the eighth inning and four relievers did not allow a runner over the final seven innings Sunday as the Seibu Lions rallied to beat the Yomiuri Giants 3-2 in Game 7 and won their first Japan Series crown in four years.
Seibu won its 13th Japan Series title, including three by the Nishitetsu Lions, its forerunner to Seibu. Yomiuri was looking for its 21st Japan Series crown and first since it swept Seibu in four games in 2002, Hara's first year as manager.
November 10: Full Story
Jason Coskrey, Japan Times: Strength in relief gives pitch-perfect Lions win
Baseball Reference: 2008 Nippon Series
Wikipedia: 2008 Japan Series

Watanabe's gentle touch brings out Lions' claws
Kaz Nagatsuka, Japan Times -- When thinking of what made the Seibu Lions' quick resurgence from the fifth-place finish of the previous season possible, as well as the players' growth, manager Hisanobu Watanabe's presence played a big part in it.
The way he led the Saitama club to the Japan Series was simple, but something this country's pro baseball hadn't seen in Japanese managers.
The youngest NPB skipper at 43, Watanabe, who took the helm this season, abandoned the typical Japanese managerial method of scolding players for their mistakes and only tried to look at the bright aspects.
October 31: Full Story
Jason Coskrey, Japan Times: Hara makes right call with Giants
Wikipedia: 2008 Central League Climax Series
Wikipedia: 2008 Pacific League Climax Series

2008 Nippon Professional Baseball season
The 2008 Nippon Professional Baseball season was the 59th season since the NPB was reorganized in 1950. The regular season started on March 20 with the Pacific League opener, and on March 28 with the Central League opener.
Wikipedia: Full Article