Yomiuri Giants Win the Japan Series

OSAKA, Japan —  Warren Cromartie began a three-run, fourth-inning rally with a double, then hit a home run in the seventh as the Yomiuri Giants defeated the Kintetsu Buffaloes, 8-5, Sunday to win the Japan Series.

The Central League champion Giants rallied for the victory after losing the first three games of the best-of-seven series, Japan’s version of the World Series.

In the top of the fourth, Norihiro Komada scored on an error by shortstop Yasunaga Makishi, Takayoshi Nakao had a one-run single and Masahiro Kawai had a one-run double to give the Giants a 4-0 lead. Komada had earlier homered for a 1-0 lead.

The Giants then extended the lead to 7-2 in the sixth.

Cromartie has said this will be his last season in Japanese baseball. The former Montreal Expos star led both leagues in batting with a .378 average during the regular season.