Hanshin pinch hitter Katsunori Nomura singled home the game-winning run in the bottom of the 11th inning as the Tigers edged the Yomiuri Giants with a 7-6 "sayonara" victory at Koshien Stadium on Thursday, completing a three-game sweep of the defending Japan Series champions. With the game tied at 6-6 in the bottom of the 11th with one out and bases loaded, Nomura singled to center field to put an end to the five-hour, three-minute game and extend Hanshin's winning streak to seven games.
Tigers' seventh pitcher Shinobu Fukuhara (7-8) picked up the win, pitching two scoreless innings, while Yomiuri reliever Shinichiro Minami took the loss.
With the Tigers up 6-5 in the ninth, Akira Eto connected for a game-tying RBI single to take the game into extra innings. The Giants jumped out to a three-run lead in the first inning, highlighted by Yoshinobu Takahashi's two-run single into center field.