Coming off a tough season, John Bowker was ready for his moment.
The Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters sure weren't ready for him.
Bowker hit a three-run home run in the fourth inning and added a two-run double in the seventh, while starter Tetsuya Utsumi silenced the Fighters' bats with seven shutout innings in the Yomiuri Giants' 8-1 win in Game 1 of the Japan Series on Saturday at Tokyo Dome.