Yomiuri shortstop Tomohiro Nioka smashed a game-winning solo homer in the bottom of the ninth inning Sunday as the Giants came from behind to beat the Chunichi Dragons 5-4 with a "sayonara" win at the Tokyo Dome to clinch their 29th Central League pennant.
An elated manager Shigeo Nagashima was tossed into the air six times by his players, who claimed their third league title since Nagashima took the helm in 1993, following victories in '94 and '96.
"It was a tough game, but thanks to all of you out here today and all our fans all over Japan that were cheering for us, we were able to win," Nagashima said after the game.