Japanese Sports Briefs

Oct 1, 2008 - 3:21 PM (Courtesy of Kyodo News Service)

TOKYO, Oct. 1 Kyodo ----------

Baseball: Fighters' onslaught secures Climax Series playoff spot

SENDAI - Terrmel Sledge hit a three-run home run and went 3-for-5 with four RBIs Wednesday, helping power the Nippon Ham Fighters in a 17-0 blowout of the Rakuten Eagles to clinch the third and final spot in the Climax Series. In other action, the Orix Buffaloes beat the Softbank Hawks 4-1 as slugger Kazuhiro Kiyohara helped his team to victory in the final game of his career. The Pacific League pennant winning Seibu Lions defeated the fourth-place Lotte Marines 9-5. In the Central League, the Chunichi Dragons downed the Yokohama BayStars 3-1, while the Yakult Swallows routed the Hiroshima Carp 13-3. ----------

Tennis: Nishikori puts up another impressive win at Japan Open

TOKYO - Up-and-coming Japanese teenager Kei Nishikori defeated 16th-seeded Guillermo Garcia-Lopez of Spain in two sets Wednesday to reach the last 16 of the Japan Open. World No. 84 Nishikori won his second-round match 6-4, 6-4 over his 60th-ranked opponent on the men's side of the ATP-WTA event at Ariake Tennis Forest Park. He will face fourth-seeded Richard Gasquet of France, who cruised to a 6-4, 6-2 win over Austria's Marin Slanar, on Thursday. ----------

Soccer: Reds held by Kyoto as Kashima go top

SAITAMA, Japan - Urawa Reds squandered the chance to move level on points at the top of the J-League after the Asian club champions were held to a surprise 2-2 draw at home to Kyoto Sanga on Wednesday. Quick-fire goals from Edmilson and Naohiro Takahara at the end of the first half saw Urawa come from behind to lead 2-1, but the Reds were pegged back for a second time when former Japan striker Atsushi Yanagisawa finished a flowing move to earn the visitors a share of the points. ----------

Athletics: Hurdler Tamesue to keep on running, eyeing London Games

TOKYO - Japan's two-time 400-meter hurdles world bronze medalist Dai Tamesue said Wednesday he intends to continue running and has set his sights on a fourth Olympic appearance at the 2012 London Games. Tamesue had hinted before the Beijing Olympics in August that he would be calling it a day after competing in the Chinese capital, saying ''I might not be an athlete when I come home'' to Japan.