The Lions offense came through late. And their rally was well deserved in the end.
Hideto Asamura drove in a game-tying run in the bottom of the ninth, and designated hitter Jose Fernandez came up with a go-ahead two-run single in the 11th as the Seibu Lions downed the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters 5-2 in Game 1 of the Pacific League Climax Series first stage in front of a full-house crowd of 42,063 at Sapporo Dome on Saturday afternoon.
"It was a great game," Fernandez said after the game. "Guys were patient. Every time you take the first win, and it's a short series, it's huge."