2012 Japan Series

Last updated
2012 Japan Series
2012 JS logo.gif
Team (Wins) Manager(s) Season
Yomiuri Giants  (4) Tatsunori Hara 864315, (.667), GA: 10.5
Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters  (2) Hideki Kuriyama 745911, (.556), GA: 3.0
DatesOctober 27 November 3
MVP Tetsuya Utsumi (YOM)
FSA Atsunori Inaba (NIP)
Broadcast
TelevisionIn Japan:
NTV (Games 1, 2 and 6)
TV Asahi (Games 3, 5)
Fuji TV (Game 4)
RadioJRN, NRN
  2011 Japan Series 2013  

The 2012 Japan Series was the 63rd edition of Nippon Professional Baseball's (NPB) championship series known colloquially as the Japan Series. The best-of-seven playoff was won by the Central League champion Yomiuri Giants in six games over the Pacific League champion Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters. It was the Giants' 22nd Japan Series title, second in the last four years. The series began on Saturday, October 27, 2012 and ended on Saturday, November 3, 2012 at the Tokyo Dome in Bunkyō, Tokyo. Giants starting pitcher Tetsuya Utsumi, who was the winning pitcher in Games 1 and 5, was named the Japan Series Most Valuable Player (MVP). Giants players Shinnosuke Abe, Hisayoshi Chono and John Bowker were also recognized with Outstanding Player awards. [1]

Contents

Climax Series

First StageFinal Stage Japan Series
1 Yomiuri Giants 4
2 Chunichi Dragons 22Chunichi Dragons3
3 Tokyo Yakult Swallows 1CL1Yomiuri Giants4
PL1Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters2
1 Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters 4
2 Saitama Seibu Lions 13Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks0
3 Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks 2

Summary

Yomiuri Giants won the series, 4–2.

GameDateScoreLocationTimeAttendance 
1October 27Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters – 1, Yomiuri Giants – 8 Tokyo Dome 3:1344,981 [2]  
2October 28Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters – 0, Yomiuri Giants – 1Tokyo Dome2:5144,932 [3]  
3October 30Yomiuri Giants – 3, Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters – 7 Sapporo Dome 4:0436,942 [4]  
4October 31Yomiuri Giants – 0, Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters – 1 (12)Sapporo Dome4:1540,433 [5]  
5November 1Yomiuri Giants – 10, Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters – 2Sapporo Dome3:5240,579 [6]  
6November 3Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters – 3, Yomiuri Giants – 4Tokyo Dome3:2245,018 [7]

Game summaries

Game 1

John Bowker collected five RBIs in Game 1, one shy of tying the Japan Series record. John Bowker 20120513.jpg
John Bowker collected five RBIs in Game 1, one shy of tying the Japan Series record.
Saturday, October 27, 2012, 6:11 pm (JST) at Tokyo Dome in Bunkyō, Tokyo
Team123456789 R H E
Nippon-Ham000000001130
Yomiuri00042020X8140
WP: Tetsuya Utsumi (1–0)   LP: Mitsuo Yoshikawa (0–1)
Home runs:
NHF: Dai-Kang Yang (1)
YOM: John Bowker (1)

After three scoreless innings, the Giants scored the first run of the series in the bottom of the fourth with an RBI single off the bat of catcher Shinnosuke Abe. Later in the same inning, former Major League Baseball (MLB) player John Bowker hit a two-out, three-run home run to put the Giants up 4–0. Fighters' starter Mitsuo Yoshikawa was taken out of the game following the inning. He gave up four runs on seven hits. The next inning, the Giants added two runs to their total with RBIs from Abe and outfielder Yoshinobu Takahashi. After a scoreless sixth inning, Bowker struck again in the seventh. He hit a double to right field with the bases loaded, driving in two more runs. Bowker finished the game with five RBIs, one shy of tying the Japan Series record. All eight of the Giants' starting position players finished the game with at least one hit. [8]

The 2012 season was Bowker's first season playing in NPB. He performed poorly during the 69 regular season games in which he appeared, hitting three home runs, ten RBIs and a .196 batting average. In August and September, Bowker was sent away to play on the Giants farm team; however, he was brought back near the end of the regular season. He made his NPB postseason debut in Game 3 of the final stage of the Central League Climax Series. After going 2-for-4 in that game, he played in the three remaining games of the series recording a hit in each. [8]

Giants' starter Tetsuya Utsumi kept the Fighters scoreless through the seven innings he pitched. He struck out eight and allowed only two hits with no walks; however, he did hit two batters. The Fighters managed to avoid a shutout when outfielder Daikan Yoh hit a solo home run off of Giants pitcher Dicky Gonzalez. [8]

Game 2

Hisayoshi Chono's (seen here in 2010) solo, lead-off home run in the first inning was the game-winning RBI. Yomiuri Giants h-chono.jpg
Hisayoshi Chono's (seen here in 2010) solo, lead-off home run in the first inning was the game-winning RBI.
Sunday, October 28, 2012, 6:10 pm (JST) at Tokyo Dome in Bunkyō, Tokyo
Team123456789 R H E
Nippon-Ham000000000050
Yomiuri10000000X150
WP: Hirokazu Sawamura (1–0)   LP: Masaru Takeda (0–1)   Sv: Scott Mathieson (1)
Home runs:
NHF: None
YOM: Hisayoshi Chono (1)

Second-year pitcher Hirokazu Sawamura started Game 2 for the Giants, marking his first Japan Series appearance. In the first pitch of the night, Sawamura hit Daikan Yoh. After recording two outs, Sawamura hit a second batter, outfielder Sho Nakata. He retired the next batter and finished the inning without allowing any runs. After being hit, Yoh continued to play; however, Nakata was removed from the game after the fourth inning to be taken to a hospital for X-rays on his hand. No bones were broken and Nakata returned for Game 3. Fighters starter Masaru Takeda took the mound in the bottom half of the inning and gave up a lead-off, solo home run to outfielder Hisayoshi Chono. It was the 12th lead-off home run in Japan Series history. [9]

Chono's lead-off home run proved to be the difference in the game. After the first inning, Takeda allowed only three more hits over five scoreless innings. He struck out a total of ten batters. Sawamura went on to pitch through eight scoreless innings, allowing only three hits and striking out seven. With two outs in the ninth inning, the Fighters had a chance to score after Giants reliever Tetsuya Yamaguchi allowed two singles. Yamaguchi was replaced by Scott Mathieson who threw one pitch to Tomohiro Nioka to record an out and secure the Giants' win. Mathieson's save was the first one-pitch save and the sixth one-batter save in Japan Series history. Also, for only the second time in Japan Series history, no walks were allowed by any pitcher used by either team in the game. [9]

Game 3

Tuesday, October 30, 2012, 6:32 pm (JST) at Sapporo Dome in Sapporo, Hokkaido
Team123456789 R H E
Yomiuri0000200103111
Nippon-Ham02300101X7120
WP: Brian Wolfe (1-0)   LP: D. J. Houlton (0-1)
Home runs:
YOM: None
NHF: Atsunori Inaba (1)
The Fighters' Atsunori Inaba gave his team their first lead of the series with a solo home run in Game 3. Inaba Atsunori, Beijing 2008.jpg
The Fighters' Atsunori Inaba gave his team their first lead of the series with a solo home run in Game 3.

In Game 3, the Fighters found themselves starting their potential three-game homestand down two-games-to-none. Fighters designated hitter Atsunori Inaba got the scoring started in the second inning with a solo home run, giving the Fighters their first lead of the series. Shortstop Makoto Kaneko added to the lead with an RBI single later in the inning. The scoring continued for the Fighters in the third. Giants starter D. J. Houlton was quickly replaced after walking two batters and then allowing Inaba and third baseman Eiichi Koyano to collect back-to-back RBI hits. The next batter, first baseman Micah Hoffpauir, batted in another run before the end of the third inning. [10]

Fighters starter Brian Wolfe pitched through five innings allowing five hits, striking out three, walking three and hitting a batter. He allowed two runs, both in the fifth inning. For the bottom of the fifth, Shinnosuke Abe was replaced at catcher. Abe felt discomfort in his leg when he attempted to get on base during the top of the inning. Because of this injury, the Giants captain was missing from the line up for Game 4 and Game 5. [10]

With the Fighters up 6-2, the Giants threatened to score in the top of the eighth inning. They loaded the bases with three consecutive no-out singles off of Fighters reliever Hirotoshi Masui. Masui forced the next two batters to pop out and ground out before allowing an RBI single. He escaped the inning with only one run scored when he got the next batter to fly out. The Fighters' entire starting lineup finished the game with at least one hit. Their total of 12 hits surpassed their total of eight hits from Games 1 and 2 combined. [10]

Game 4

Wednesday, October 31, 2012, 6:30 pm (JST) at Sapporo Dome in Sapporo, Hokkaido
Team123456789101112 R H E
Yomiuri000000000000071
Nippon-Ham000000000001180
WP: Naoki Miyanishi (1–0)   LP: Kentaro Nishimura (0–1)

Game 4 started as a pitcher's duel between Fighters pitcher Masaru Nakamura and Giants pitcher Ryosuke Miyaguni. Both young starters took a scoreless game through seven innings before being relieved. Nakamura allowed five hits, struck out three and walked none, while Miyaguni allowed three hits, striking out four and walking two. The game went into extra innings and remained scoreless until the bottom of the 12th. Eiichi Koyano led off the bottom of the 12th with a single. He was thrown out at second by Giants reliever Kentaro Nishimura on Takuya Nakashima's sacrifice bunt attempt. Next, Shota Ono bunted and again Nishimura fielded the ball; however, second baseman Daisuke Fujimura, then covering first base, could not handle Nishimura's throw. Fujimura's error left runners safe on first and second. With only one out, Yuji Iiyama was given the go-ahead to hit instead of laying down another sacrifice bunt. Iiyama hit a walkoff double to drive the game-winning run home. [11]

Game 5

Yomiuri Giants backup catcher Ken Kato's simulation of being hit by pitch was at the center of a controversial Game 5 call. Katoh ken.jpg
Yomiuri Giants backup catcher Ken Kato's simulation of being hit by pitch was at the center of a controversial Game 5 call.
Thursday, November 1, 2012, 2012, 6:32 pm (JST) at Sapporo Dome in Sapporo, Hokkaido
Team123456789 R H E
Yomiuri02312000210150
Nippon-Ham011000000291
WP: Tetsuya Utsumi (2–0)   LP: Mitsuo Yoshikawa (0–2)
Home runs:
YOM: John Bowker (2)
NHF: None

John Bowker had another memorable night in Game 5. His two-run home run in the second inning put the Giants up 2–0. The Fighters cut the deficit in half in bottom of the inning. Fighters starter Mitsuo Yoshikawa continued to struggle to get batters out in the third. After giving up three more RBIs, Yoshikawa was relieved by Kazuhito Tadano after just 223 innings. [12]

Giants backup catcher Ken Kato was at the center of a controversial call the next inning. With a runner on first base, Kato was preparing to lay down a sacrifice bunt. After Tadano's first pitch, Kato dropped to the ground holding his head, apparently indicating that he had been hit. Home plate umpire Koichi Yanada awarded Kato first base and ejected Tadano for a dangerous pitch. He was the first player in Japan Series history to be removed from a game for a dangerous pitch. Replays clearly showed, however, that the pitch did not hit Kato, who sold the umpire on a hit by pitch in a move similar to simulation in football, flopping in basketball, or embellishment in ice hockey, all of which are punishable in their respective sports. The game taking place in Hokkaido, Fighters fans booed intensely during Kato's remaining two at-bats later in the game. [12] Fighters manager Hideki Kuriyama ran onto the field and argued with Yanada that Kato had not been hit, but the call stood. [13] In the top half of the fifth inning, a pitch hit Hisayoshi Chono on the knee and he had to leave the game. [12]

Tetsuya Utsumi earned his second win of the series with a strong, eight-inning outing. He allowed two runs on seven hits and struck out seven without walking a batter. The Giants continued to score throughout the game, eventually routing the Fighters 10–2. [12]

Game 6

Shinnosuke Abe had the series-winning hit in Game 6. Giants abe 10.jpg
Shinnosuke Abe had the series-winning hit in Game 6.
Saturday, November 3, 2012, 6:11 pm (JST) at Tokyo Dome in Bunkyō, Tokyo
Team123456789 R H E
Nippon-Ham000003000380
Yomiuri21000010X470
WP: Kyosuke Takagi (1–0)   LP: Yuya Ishii (0–1)   Sv: Tetsuya Yamaguchi (1)
Home runs:
NHF: Sho Nakata (1)
YOM: Hisayoshi Chono (2)

The Giants took a quick lead in Game 6 with outfielder Kenji Yano's bases-loaded single which produced two runs in the bottom of the first inning. Fighters starter Masaru Takeda was quickly pulled from the game after the second inning in which he allowed a third Giants run off of Hisayoshi Chono's solo home run, his second of the series. Heading into the top of the sixth inning, the Fighters were down 3–0 when Sho Nakata hit a three-run home run to tie the game. [1]

The tie was broken, however, in the bottom of the seventh. Chono led off the inning with a walk and was quickly advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt from Tetsuya Matsumoto. Two batters later, Shinnosuke Abe hit a single up the middle of the field to earn what proved to be the game-winning RBI. Abe returned to the Giants roster for Game 6 after missing the previous two games because of discomfort in his right leg. Scott Mathieson then threw a scoreless eighth and Tetsuya Yamaguchi earned the save by keeping the Fighters from capitalizing on a hit and a walk in the ninth. [1]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kenta Maeda</span> Japanese baseball player (born 1988)

Kenta Maeda is a Japanese professional baseball pitcher for the Detroit Tigers of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Los Angeles Dodgers and Minnesota Twins and in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for the Hiroshima Toyo Carp.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2009 Japan Series</span>

The 2009 Japan Series was the Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) championship series for the 2009 season. It was the 60th Japan Series and featured the Pacific League Climax Series champions, the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters, against the Central League Climax Series champions, the Yomiuri Giants. The series is the second time the two teams played each other in the championship series, the last time being 1981. Played at Sapporo Dome and Tokyo Dome, the Giants defeated the Fighters four games to two in the best-of-seven series to win the franchise's 21st Japan Series championship. Giants' captain Shinnosuke Abe was named Most Valuable Player of the series. The series was played between October 31 and November 7, 2009, with home field advantage going to the Pacific League.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kimiyasu Kudō</span> Japanese baseball player and manager

Kimiyasu Kudo is a Japanese former professional baseball pitcher and the former manager of the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks of Nippon Professional Baseball. Known for his longevity as a player, he holds the NPB records for longest career with 29 seasons played, most consecutive seasons with at least one win with 23 and is the oldest pitcher to strike out 10 batters in a game, doing so at the age of 41 years and 11 months. In his career, he recorded 224 wins, a 3.45 ERA and 2,859 strike outs. However, despite all his accolades, he is famously known for having never won the Eiji Sawamura Award, given to Japan's top pitcher.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2013 Japan Series</span>

The 2013 Japan Series was the 64th edition of Nippon Professional Baseball's (NPB) championship series known colloquially as the Japan Series. The best-of-seven playoff was won by the Pacific League champion Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles in seven games over the Central League champion Yomiuri Giants. It was the Eagles' first Japan Series appearance and their first win since the team's creation in 2005. The series began on Saturday, October 26, 2013 and ended on Sunday, November 3, 2013 at the Miyagi Baseball Stadium in Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture. Eagles' starting pitcher Manabu Mima, who was the winning pitcher in Games 3 and 7, was named the Japan Series Most Valuable Player (MVP). This was also the last Japan Series that Konami would sponsor, as SMBC would take over the naming rights in 2014. Before the 2022 Japan Series, it was the last Japan Series to go the full 7 games, however 2022 would see 1 drawn game, so the 2023 Japan Series would be the latest to be played to a full 7 game series where each game had a winner declared.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2014 Japan Series</span> 65th edition of Nippon Professional Baseballs championship series

The 2014 Japan Series was the 65th edition of Nippon Professional Baseball's (NPB) championship series known colloquially as the Japan Series. The best-of-seven playoff was won by the Pacific League champion Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks in five games over the Central League champion Hanshin Tigers. The series began on Saturday, October 25, 2014 and ended on Thursday, October 30, 2014 at the Fukuoka Dome in Fukuoka, Fukuoka Prefecture.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2015 Japan Series</span>

The 2015 Japan Series was the 66th edition of Nippon Professional Baseball's postseason championship series. The Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks, champions of the Pacific League, played the Tokyo Yakult Swallows, champions of the Central League. The Hawks were the defending Japan Series champions, having beaten the Hanshin Tigers in 2014. The series was sponsored by the Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (SMBC) and was officially known as the SMBC Nippon Series 2015.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2016 Japan Series</span>

The 2016 Japan Series was the 67th edition of Nippon Professional Baseball's postseason championship series. The Hiroshima Toyo Carp, champions of the Central League, played the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters, champions of the Pacific League, in a best-of-seven series beginning on October 22. The Japan Series was sponsored by the Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (SMBC) and was officially known as the SMBC Nippon Series 2016.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2017 Japan Series</span> 68th edition of Nippon Professional Baseballs championship series

The 2017 Japan Series was the championship series of Nippon Professional Baseball's postseason. The 68th edition of the Japan Series, it was a best-of-seven playoff between the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks of the Pacific League and the Yokohama DeNA BayStars of the Central League.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2018 Japan Series</span> 69th edition of Nippon Professional Baseballs championship series

The 2018 Japan Series was the championship series of Nippon Professional Baseball's (NPB) 2018 season. The 69th edition of the Japan Series, it was a best-of-seven playoff between the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks, the Pacific League's (PL) Climax Series champion and defending Japan Series champions, and the Hiroshima Toyo Carp, the Central League's (CL) Climax Series champion. The Hawks defeated the Carp, 4–1–1, in six games, to win their second consecutive Japan Series championship and their fifth in eight years.

The 2019 Central League Climax Series (CLCS) was a postseason playoff consisting of two consecutive series that determined which of the three teams who finished in the top three during the 2019 regular season would represent the Central League in the Japan Series. The First Stage was a best-of-three series played between the second-place hosts Yokohama DeNA BayStars and the third-place Hanshin Tigers. The series was played between October 5 to 7. The Tigers defeated the Baystars 2–1 and advanced to the Final Stage to face the pennant-winning Yomiuri Giants.

The 2019 Pacific League Climax Series (PLCS) was a post-season Climax Series playoff consisting of two consecutive series that determined which of the three teams who finished in the top three during the 2019 regular season would represent the Pacific League in the Japan Series. The First Stage was a best-of-three series played between the second-place hosts Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks and the third-place Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles. The series was played between October 5 to 7. The Hawks defeated the Eagles 2–1 and advanced to the Final Stage to face the pennant-winning Saitama Seibu Lions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2019 Japan Series</span> 70th edition of Nippon Professional Baseballs championship series

The 2019 Japan Series was the championship series of Nippon Professional Baseball's (NPB) 2019 season. The 70th edition of the Japan Series, it was played from 19-23 October. The series was a best-of-seven playoff between the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks, the Pacific League's (PL) Climax Series champion and defending Japan Series champions, and the Yomiuri Giants, the Central League's (CL) Climax Series champion. The Hawks defeated the Giants in a four game sweep to win their third consecutive Japan Series championship, their fifth title in six years; they are also the first team to win three straight Japan Series titles since the Seibu Lions did it from 1990 to 1992.

The 2020 Pacific League Climax Series (PLCS) was Nippon Professional Baseball's (NPB) playoff series to decide which Pacific League (PL) team would advance to the 2020 Japan Series. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the PL decided to modify the traditional Climax Series format and eliminate the First Stage series to instead only play one modified Final Stage series: a best-of-five series, with the PL champion receiving an automatic one-win advantage over the league's runner-up. The Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks, the league's champion, competed against runner-up Chiba Lotte Marines to determine who would advance to the 2020 Japan Series. The series was played from November 14 to 15 at Fukuoka PayPay Dome. With the advantage and two consecutive come-from-behind wins, the Hawks advanced past the Marines to the Japan Series and the Hawks' Akira Nakamura was named the series' Most Valuable Player. SoftBank will compete against the Central League's (CL) regular-season champion, the Yomiuri Giants, in the Japan Series. Because of the pandemic, the CL cancelled their Climax Series altogether, instead opting to send their regular-season champion.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2020 Japan Series</span> 71st edition of the Japan Series

The 2020 Japan Series was the championship series of Nippon Professional Baseball's (NPB) 2020 season. The 71st edition of the Japan Series, it was played from November 21 to 25. The series was a best-of-seven playoff between the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks, the Pacific League's (PL) Climax Series champion, and the defending Japan Series champions, and the Yomiuri Giants, the Central League's (CL) regular-season champion. The series was a rematch of the previous year's Japan Series.

The 2021 Pacific League Climax Series (PLCS) was a set of two consecutive playoff series in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). The First Stage began on November 6 and the Final Stage concluded on November 12. The First Stage was a best-of-three series between the second-place Chiba Lotte Marines and the third-place Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles. The Final Series was a best-of-six with the Orix Buffaloes, the Pacific League champion, being awarded a one-win advantage against the Marines, the winner of the First Stage. The Buffaloes advanced to the 2021 Japan Series to compete against the Tokyo Yakult Swallows, the 2021 Central League Climax Series winner.

The 2021 Central League Climax Series (CLCS) was a set of two consecutive playoff series in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). The First Stage began on November 6 and the Final Stage concluded on November 12. The First Stage was a best-of-three series between the second-place Hanshin Tigers and the third-place Yomiuri Giants. The Final Series was a best-of-six with the Tokyo Yakult Swallows, the Central League champion, being awarded a one-win advantage against the Giants, the winner of the First Stage. The Swallows advanced to the 2021 Japan Series to compete against the Orix Buffaloes, the 2021 Pacific League Climax Series winner.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2021 Japan Series</span> 72nd edition of the Japan Series

The 2021 Japan Series was the championship series of Nippon Professional Baseball's 2021 season. The 72nd edition of the Japan Series, it was a best-of-seven playoff between the Orix Buffaloes and Tokyo Yakult Swallows, the winners of the Pacific and Central League's Climax Series, respectively. Both teams were the winners of their respective league's regular season championship.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2022 Japan Series</span>

The 2022 Japan Series was the championship series of Nippon Professional Baseball's 2022 season. The 73rd edition of the Japan Series, it was a best-of-seven playoff between the winning teams of the Pacific League and Central League's Climax Series. The series began on October 22 and ended on October 30.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rōki Sasaki's perfect game</span> 2022 baseball game of Japanese professional baseball

On April 10, 2022, Rōki Sasaki of the Chiba Lotte Marines of Nippon Professional Baseball's (NPB) Pacific League threw a perfect game against the Orix Buffaloes at Zozo Marine Stadium in Chiba City. It was the 16th perfect game in NPB history. Sasaki tied a NPB single-game record with 19 strikeouts and set an NPB record with 13 consecutive strikeouts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2023 Japan Series</span> 74th edition of Nippon Professional Baseballs championship series

The 2023 Japan Series was the championship series of Nippon Professional Baseball's (NPB) 2023 season. The 74th edition of the Japan Series, it was a best-of-seven playoff between the winners of the Central League (CL) and Pacific League's (PL) postseason tournament, the Climax Series. The Hanshin Tigers and Orix Buffaloes each won their respective CL and PL titles in the regular season, which advanced both teams directly to the final stages of the Climax Series; each then earned Japan Series berths by winning their respective CL and PL Climax Series.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Coskrey, Jason (November 4, 2012). "Giants capture Japan Series title". The Japan Times . Archived from the original on January 8, 2013. Retrieved November 3, 2012.
  2. "Saturday, October 27, 2012". Nippon Professional Baseball . Retrieved October 27, 2012.
  3. "Sunday, October 28, 2012". Nippon Professional Baseball . Retrieved October 28, 2012.
  4. "Tuesday, October 30, 2012". Nippon Professional Baseball . Retrieved October 30, 2012.
  5. "Wednesday, October 31, 2012". Nippon Professional Baseball . Retrieved November 1, 2012.
  6. "Thursday, November 1, 2012". Nippon Professional Baseball . Retrieved November 1, 2012.
  7. "Saturday, November 3, 2012". Nippon Professional Baseball . Retrieved November 3, 2012.
  8. 1 2 3 Coskrey, Jason (October 28, 2012). "Giants trounce Fighters in Game 1". The Japan Times . Retrieved November 3, 2012.
  9. 1 2 Coskrey, Jason (October 28, 2012). "Sawamura, Chono lead Giants to win". The Japan Times . Retrieved November 3, 2012.
  10. 1 2 3 Coskrey, Jason (October 31, 2012). "Fighters come alive in Japan Series". The Japan Times . Retrieved November 3, 2012.
  11. Coskrey, Jason (November 1, 2012). "Fighters even Japan Series 2-2 with win in 12th". The Japan Times . Retrieved November 3, 2012.
  12. 1 2 3 4 Coskrey, Jason (November 2, 2012). "Giants crush Fighters, take 3-2 lead in Japan Series". The Japan Times . Retrieved November 3, 2012.
  13. Coskrey, Jason (November 2, 2012). "Game 5 marred by mistaken HBP call, Tadano ejection". The Japan Times . Retrieved November 3, 2012.