Yoon Chul
Staff Reporter
The Yomiuri Giants took a 3-2 lead without the services of Lee Seung-yeop in the best-of-seven Japan Series with a 7-3 victory over the Seibu Lions in Game 5 at Seibu Dome Stadium Thursday.
The Giants need only one victory to be the champions for the first time in six years.
The Giants slugger Lee Seung-yeop, who has struggled in the Japan Series, wasn't named in the starting lineup. He usually bats fifth - not only in the Japan Series, but also the Climax Series.
Lee Seung-yeop, who only appeared in the top of ninth as pinch hitter, went to the base hit by pitch and scored when Suzuki Takahiro made a squeeze bunt. However, it didn't have any impact because the winner was virtually decided before he scored.
The Korean slugger's absence was anticipated after Game 4.
"It is possible to change the starting line up, but I have nothing to say," the Giants manager Hara Tatsunori said, implying some changes after the Lions earned a 5-0 perfect victory over his team Wednesday.
"When a player starts struggling in the kind of best-of-seven series, he will not get out from the slump within the series," the Giants coach Ihara Haruki said, supporting his manager's comments after that game.
Lee struggled with 1-for-12 during the four games in the Japan Series.
The Korean slugger's poor recent form was again evident after the Lions pitcher threw to the head of Lee as a signature of intent. After that, the Korean outfielder lost his balance and lacked patience.
The Lions pitching patterns for Lee are almost fixed. The first ball was pitched to head very close, and they threw the curveball to the outside for making swing.
The Lions' way is reasonable, as Lee has shown strong impacts in all the important games. Lee already hit the two-run homer over Japan to advance Korea to the final of the Beijing Olympics, and had another dinger to help his country clinch gold.
Lee can't be on the field at Game 6 in the Japan Series, because his substitute Abe Shinnosuke hit two RBI singles to twice make the game tied in Game 5, even though he was struggling with a shoulder injury.
"Though I didn't play as usual, I am fine because my team won," the Giants slugger said.
"I will show my power at Tokyo Dome Stadium. During the break I can regain my balance to clinch my team the top," Lee added.
The Yomiuri Giants could be crowned champions if they win against the Seibu Lions Saturday in Game 6 of the Japan Series at Tokyo Dome Stadium.