Besuboru Like It Oughta Be

Saturday: After blasting a "sayonara," or game-winning, homer, slugger Hiromoto Okubo of the first-place Yomiuri Giants (Central League) is so overcome with emotion that he bursts into tears on reaching home plate in a 6-4 victory over the Hanshin Tigers. Tuesday: League-leading hitter Ichiro Suzuki, left, of the Orix Blue Wave (second place, Pacific League) smacks the 200th hit of his record-breaking season in a 6-5 win over the Chiba Lotte Marines. Thursday: The Tigers lose again, 4-0, as Chunichi Dragons pitcher Kuo Yuan-tzu becomes only the fifth hurler in besuboru history to win 100 career games. Friday: The once mighty Giants lose, 1-0, to the fifth-ranked Yokohama Bay Stars, forcing a tight pennant race with the second-place Hiroshima Carp and third-place Dragons.