"I'll take the criticism, not the player." Yomiuri Beginner Coach failed to advance to the Japan Series due to the third-place headwind
Oct 22, 2024
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The Yomiuri Giants, who reached the top of the Central League for the first time in four years, failed to advance to the Japan Series. It was blocked by the strong gust of the Yokohama BayStars, who started the climax series in third place. Yomiuri lost 2-3 in Game 6 of the Climax Series Final Stage (best-of-four) at Tokyo Dome on the 21st. It started with one win in advantage as the league's No. 1 player and fell to 3 wins and 4 losses. After three consecutive losses, he saved hope by winning two consecutive games, but failed to cross the last threshold.
It's a reversal of expectations. Yomiuri posted 16 wins (one draw and eight losses) in the pennant race against Yokohama. Thanks to the most wins against Yokohama, he was able to rank No. 1 in the league. He finished first, eight games ahead of Yokohama. Yokohama this fall was scary. He won two consecutive games against the Hanshin Tigers in the first stage (best of two games). He drove this momentum to the final stage. It will be the best stage in seven years since 2017.
At the top of the ninth inning, when the score was 2-2, a nightmarish time was waiting. Yokohama's leadoff hitter Keito Mori hit a right-handed hit against Tomoyuki Sugano, who took the mound following the eighth inning. With two outs and third base leading to a bunt, No. 2 Makishugo hit a timely hit to the left. It was a shot that destroyed Yomiuri, who was aiming to win the Japan Series for the first time in 12 years.
3-2.
Sugano, the king of multiple wins, who won 15 games this season, made a relief appearance after starting in the second game on the 17th. He pitched seven innings and took the mound after a three-day break. He stopped the eighth inning well with three outs, but failed to stop Maki, who is also the main hitter of the Japanese national team in the ninth inning.
It was a disappointing postseason for Sugano, a 35-year-old veteran who is pursuing a major league challenge. In the second game, he allowed six hits and two runs in seven innings and became a losing pitcher.
It's a painful upset.
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Yomiuri's last attack in the bottom of the ninth inning. The top lineup turned lethargic. No. 2 Makoto Kadowaki grounded out to second base, No. 3 Yoshihiro Maru was thrown out to left field foul fly, and No. 4 Kazuma Okamoto was thrown out to center field.
The Yomiuri lineup scored only nine points until Game 6. I think the break after winning the regular season became poisonous.
He ranked No. 1 in the league in his first year as the head coach. He has elevated his team to the B-Class (4th to 6th place among the six teams) for the second consecutive year. However, it was a shame to finish.
Manager Abe Shinnosuke "It was the first game in two weeks, so I had difficulty adjusting my condition and it didn't go my way. But there is no excuse for it." "I don't want him to criticize the players," Abe said. I'll be criticized for not winning"
Abe, who was assisting manager Tatsunori Hara as the head coach, took the helm right after last year's season.
Yokohama and Softbank Hawks will start the Japan Series on the 26th.
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huelva@sportschosun.com
