Article Translation – Gomez Goes for 11

The original article can be found here もとのきじはこちら (by Keitaro Tsuji)

Hanshin infielder Mauro Gomez (30) spoke enthusiastically on the 20th about setting a new record for RBIs in the Japan Series against SoftBank. In the final series of the Climax Series (CS) against the Giants (at Tokyo Dome) he broke out for 8 RBIs in 4 games. He set a Central League record for most RBIs in a CS Final Stage series. When asked what his run production hopes were for the upcoming series, he said, “I’m going to give it all I’ve got to help the team win,” seemingly setting his sights on the Japan Series record of 10 RBIs.

The CS MVP was taken by lights-out closer Seung-hwan Oh, but his .375 average, 1 home run and 8 RBIs were also MVP-caliber numbers. The Japan Series record of 10 RBIs was marked by Katsuo Ohsugi (Yakult) in 1978 and Kiyoyuki Nagashima (Hiroshima) in 1984, both in 7 games. Gomez was on pace to surpass that number in the Giants series.

“More than anything, RBIs contribute to the team winning, so I’m obsessed with them,” he’s been saying all along, and he backed his words up with a league-leading 109 RBIs in the regular season. “I’ll just keep giving it my best in the Japan Series, just as I have been all along,” showing his intention to lead the hitters to the Tigers’ first Japan Series championship in 29 years.