The Yomiuri Giants won their second consecutive Central League pennant, and 38th overall on Friday.
Including those that came in the single-league era, the championship was the team's 47th.
The Giants, who had a magic number of one to clinch the pennant, heading into their game against the Tokyo Yakult Swallows at Tokyo Dome, played to a 3-3 tie. That, combined with a tie by the second-place Hanshin Tigers, gave the Giants the title.
Giants skipper Tatsunori Hara, in his 14th season at the helm, now has won the pennant nine times -- 2002, 2007-2009, 2012-2014 and 2019.
The season started on June 19, about three months late because of the novel coronavirus, and the team got off to a strong start with a 7-2-1 record in its first 10 games.
Yomiuri surrendered the top spot once in July, but quickly recovered and pulled away in September by winning nine consecutive games -- the team's longest winning streak in eight seasons.
Since the CL Climax Series will not be held this season, the Giants advance directly to the Japan Series, which is set to begin on Nov. 21.
They will take on the winner of the Pacific League Climax Series for the championship.
Read more from The Japan News at https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/
