Watanabe keeps Marines alive with 4-2 win

One lasting impression on me when I look at Shunsuke Watanabe is that he likes to pitch on the big stage. Every time I see him take the mound for Japan in the WBC or for the Marines in the playoffs (either in relief of starting), he's always giving his team a boost.

He gave his team a boost in the best possible way today, as he kept his team's season alive at the expense of Yao-hsun Yang and the SoftBank offense.

In a game that could force both team's hands with regard to starting pitching for the last two games, Watanabe went above and beyond the call of duty in this game, going eight-plus innings, giving up two runs on seven hits with four strikeouts and a walk.

Yang might have suffered from super-jitters or might have just been the victim of a quick hook, as he gave up two runs in three and two-thirds innings with three hits and three walks to go with two strikeouts. He didn't seem to be doing that bad, but Akiyama-kantoku pulled the plug and went to Kanazawa, who kept the Marines at bay.

The only runs that the Marines got off Yang were from a solo blast by Maokto Imaoka in the 2nd, and an RBI single from Shoitsu Ohmatsu in the fourth, which ended up chasing Yang.

That was enough for Watanabe, as the Hawks didn't even get a man to third until the 9th inning, when it was a case of too little, too late. He got some more support off the other two men to come out of the SoftBank bullpen, Keisuke Kattoh and Yoshiaki Fujioka.

The home team did attempt to mount a rally, as Honda doubled and Matsunaka singled for runners on the corners and no out. Kokubo knocked Watanabe out of the game at last with an RBI single to pull the game to 4-1.

Starter-turned-closer Hiroyuki Kobayashi came in to snuff out the SoftBank rally, and started well by retiring Tamura. However, he loaded the bases with a walk to Ortiz, and after Petagine was retired on a flare to short, Kobayashi plunked pinch-hitter Shibahara to force in another run.

With the chance to tie the game, Yamazaki has had his clutch moments this season, but not this time. He popped out to the catcher Satozaki in foul ground to end the game.

The loss forces Game 5 in the series, with the Hawks still leading, three games to two. Another critical game comes up with the potential starters being Kenji Ohtonari (4-9, 4.31) against Yuta Ohmine (3-6, 5.17). The Marines need to win to extend their season to a winner-take-all Game 6.