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Sapporo Dome | Attendance: 32,713 | Time: 3h 19m | Fighters lead series, 3-0

The Eagles dropped a must-win game against the Fighters, 3-1, and are now 1 loss away from elimination.

Fernando Seguignol (2-for-4, BB, HR, R, RBI) gave the Eagles a 1-0 lead in the top of the 4th with a solo homer to lead off the inning.  The Fighters quickly tied the game in the bottom of the inning when Atsunori Inaba (2-for-3, IBB, 2B, R) started things off with a double, advanced to third on a ground out, and 1 out later, came around to score on a double by Eiichi Koyano (1-for-3, BB, 2B, RBI).

The game would remain tied until the bottom 7th:

Makoto Kaneko (1-for-3, 2B, R) hit a 1-out double.  Kensuke Tanaka (1-for-4, R) followed with a single into center that put runners on first and third.  Hichori Morimoto's dribbler in front of the catcher advanced Tanaka to second and an intentional walk to Atsunori Inaba (2-for-3, IBB, 2B, R) loaded the bases.  Shinji Takahashi (1-for-3, 2 RBI) then came through with a 2-run single into left that gave the Fighters a 3-1 lead.

The Eagle would put together their best chance to score some runs in the top of the 8th when they loaded the bases on 2 singles and a walk.  But the Fighters' Takayuki Kanamori did a magnificent job in relief by keeping the Eagles from scoring any runs by getting two force outs at home and a strike out.

Rakuten would put together another threat in the top of the 9th on a 1-out HBP and single, but both Seguignol and Daisuke Kusano (1-for-5) went down on strike outs to end the game.

Hasashi Iwakuma didn't exactly have a great start (he allowed 12 base runners to reach on 9 hits, 2 walks, and an HBP), but he did manage to keep the Eagles in the game.  Had the offense been able to take better advantage of the scoring opportunities it had (T. Yamasaki made big outs in three such situations), Iwakuma could have been on the winning side of the game.

Missed Opportunities
Eagles
1st: runners on first and second, 1 out > T. Yamasaki flied out and Seguignol flied out
3rd: runner on second, 2 out > T. Yamasaki grounded out
6th: runners on first and third, 1 out > M. Nakamura GIDP
7th: runner on second, 1 out > N. Watanabe grounded out, Teppei IBB, runners on first and second, T. Yamasaki flied out
8th: bases loaded, no out > pinch hitter Kenshin grounded out, bases loaded, Fujii grounded out, bases loaded, Takasu struck out
9th: runners on first and second, 1 out > Seguignol struck out and Kusano struck out

Fighters
1st: runner on third, 2 out > Takahashi grounded out
4th: runner on second, 2 out > Itoi fouled out to the catcher
5th: runner on second, 1 out > Tanaka struck out and Morimoto grounded out
6th: runner on second, 1 out > Sledge struck out, Koyano walked, runners on first and second, Itoi fouled out to left
7th: bases loaded, 2 out > Koyano flied out

Eagles: 14 LOB, 1 DP
Fighters: 9 LOB, 0 DP

News
The Eagles outhit the Fighters, 10-9.

Rakuten Eagles

Nippon Ham Fighters

===

...A Katsuya Nomura quote from after that game:

"We couldn't do the little things. The little differences between us and the Fighters came out. I think it's hopeless now. To lose a game like we did last night, there's really no way we can win."

...22,000 fans apparently gathered at Kleenex Stadium for game 1 of the Second Round of the Climax Series.

...Game 3 starters: Tanaka Masahiro (RAK) vs Tomoya Yagi (HAM)

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