Sledge hits grand slam in Japanese playoffs

SAPPORO, Japan (AP)—Former major league player Terrmel Sledge(notes) hit a walk-off grand slam in the bottom of the ninth inning Wednesday to lift the Nippon Ham Fighters to a 9-8 win over the Rakuten Eagles in the first game of Japan’s Pacific League championship series.

With the Fighters trailing 8-5 at Sapporo Dome, Sledge connected off Eagles pitcher Kazuo Fukumori(notes) to give his team a dramatic win in Game 1 of the seven-game series.

Sledge, who played for the Montreal Expos, Washington Nationals and San Diego Padres before coming to Japan in 2008, hit 27 homers and had 88 RBIs for the Fighters, who finished first in the Pacific League.

The Eagles opened up a 6-1 lead before the Fighters scored eight runs in the last two innings.