Japan’s most popular professional baseball team is in a malaise that has seen it drop as low as fifth in the Central League standings.
The 25-year-old, who’s ranked No. 1 in the world, scored seven straight points in the third game to take the momentum back from China’s Yufei Chen.
The 25-year-old native of Fukui Prefecture will face China’s Yufei Chen in the title match after a straight-sets victory in the semifinals.
The Miyagi Prefecture school is the first from Tohoku to win the prestigious tournament.
The red-hot BayStars languished in the bottom half of the standings for most of the season before making a big turnaround.
No. 2 maegashira Ichinojo beat Ura in an earlier bout to go one better than the lone grand champion.
The 22-year-old would have joined four others on the NPB no-no list this season.
The grand champion was halted mid-bout, then came back to beat Wakamotoharu in a highly unusual display of sumo.
The lone grand champion got off to a solid start but couldn’t finish off his opponent.
Yomiuri puts an end to 14-series win streak by Yakult, but still finds itself well back of its crosstown rival.
Wakatakakage and Takanosho will be looking to challenge the grand champion.
Jamie Joseph’s team surrendered 29 points after the break against Les Bleus.