For two days in Japan, it's the Hanshin Tigers who have looked like the class of the National League. In another sign that Japanese baseball has never been better, the Tigers capped a two-game sweep over MLB clubs with a 3-0 win against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Sunday at the Tokyo Dome.

The Tokyo Dome press seating was situated on the opposite side of the stadium, a little ways up the third-base line. But even from that vantage point, it was hard to miss. If the sight of the giant flags waving didn’t draw your attention, the sound of the drums would.

The Tigers started the two-game sweep on Saturday with a 3-0 win over the Chicago Cubs after 20-year-old lefty Keito Mombetsu threw five perfect innings. No Cubs reached base until Miguel Amaya smacked a single through the infield in the sixth that just got past the shortstop.