Japanese Sports Briefs

Sep 30, 2008 - 6:42 PM (Courtesy of Kyodo News Service)

TOKYO, Sept. 30 Kyodo ----------

Baseball: Ramirez, Ogasawara blasts lift Yomiuri over Yokohama

YOKOHAMA - Alex Ramirez and Michihiro Ogasawara both hit solo homers and the Yomiuri Giants held off the Yokohama BayStars 3-0 to move within a half-game of the idle front-running Hanshin Tigers in the Central League on Tuesday. In other action, the Yakult Swallows blanked the Hiroshima Carp 8-0 and a game between Hanshin and the Chunichi Dragons was postponed due to rain at Koshien Stadium. In the Pacific League, the Rakuten Eagles routed the Softbank Hawks 15-5. ----------

Tennis: Nishikori through to 2nd round, Krumm-Date out at Japan Open

TOKYO - Rising Japanese tennis star Kei Nishikori advanced to the men's singles second round with a hard-fought 7-6 (7-3), 6-7 (5-7), 6-2 victory over Robert Kendrick of the United States at the Japan Open on Tuesday. But former world No. 4 Kimiko Krumm-Date, who entered the tournament as a wild card, lost to sixth-seeded Shahar Peer of Israel 6-3, 6-1 at Ariake Tennis Forest Park in her first singles match on the WTA Tour in 12 years.