Akinori Iwamura, second baseman for the Tampa Bay Rays (and former Tokyo Swallows third baseman), went three-for-four with an RBI double in the first game of the 2008 World Series. But it wasn’t enough as the visiting Phillies took the first game of the series, 3-2.

October 23rd, 2008 Chunichi Dragons 2 Yomiuri Giants 11 (Tokyo Dome) That hurt. Yomiuri regained its swagger tonight and walked all over Chunichi’s pitching on way to an 11-2 rout of the defending Japan Series champions.