No-decision for Van den Hurk in Hawks second consecutive loss
With a comfortable 3 game to 1 lead, the Softbank Hawks were on their way to clinch the Nippon Series, but in the course of game five the defense collapsed and the DeNABaystars took advantage and walked with a 5-4 victory.
Rick van den Hurk had a very strong start as he took a perfect game into the fourth inning and retired eleven of which seven on a strikeout. But out of the blue, the BayStars got on the board. With two outs, José Lopez doubled, followed by a home run by Yoshitomo Tsutsugo to give the BayStars a 2-1 lead.
Rick got enough run support by his team mates as the Hawks took a 1-0 lead in the first on an RBI double in the first inning by Seiichi Uchikawa. After the club trailed 2-1 it regained the lead in the fifth inning as the Hawks scored three runs. Yuki Yanagita scored from third base on a sac fly hit by Alfredo Despaigne. A two-run home run by Akira Nakamura gave the much needed run support to Rick.
But one inning later, the BayStars would turn the tables. With a runner on second, Tatsuhiro Shibata hit the ball towards Rick van den Hurk, who made a nice behind the back grab to throw him out at first base. But a walk signaled the end for Van den Hurk. With Livan Meneiro on the mound, Tsustugo doubled home Masayuki Kuwahara. Rick was credited for this run and the run driven in by Toshiro Miyazaki.
The tie-breaking run was scored by Tsutsugo on a fielding error.
All of a sudden, the offense of the Hawks stalled and despite loading the bases in the ninth inning, they were not able to score a run anymore.
Livan Moneiro took the loss as he gave up the go-ahead run. Yoshiki Sunada earned the win. In the sixth inning, he retired the side with two Ks.
Best hitter for the DeNA BayStars was Yoshitomo Tsutsugo who went 2 for 4 with a double and a home run and three RBI.
With two consecutive wins, the BayStars have the momentum going. The Softbank Hawks still have a lead but now the team has to put up a real fight all of a sudden.
If the BayStars manage to win the Nippon Series, the team will be the fourth team to overcome a 3-0 deficit in the Nippon Series. The last team to do so was the Yomiuri Giants in 1989.