Japan Series MVP Shinnosuke Abe highlighted a seven-run seventh inning with a go-ahead three-run homer as the Yomiuri Giants beat the Kia Tigers 9-4 in the Japan-Korea Club Championship on Saturday.
Abe's shot to right off reliever Gwak Jeong Cheol put Yomiuri up 4-3 before Alex Ramirez's two-run single and RBI singles from Yoshiyuki Kamei and Takahito Kudo broke open the contest in the seventh.
"I'm relieved we managed to win the very last game of the year," Yomiuri manager Tatsunori Hara said. "It was a tough game, but we bounced back and pounded out hits in the seventh inning."
Hara guided Japan to the World Baseball Classic title in March and the Giants to the Japan Series and Asian titles in the fall.