Alex Ramirez said before the game that it felt good to have a chance to achieve his 2,000th hit at Jingu Stadium, where he started his career in Japan with the Yakult Swallows.
The 38-year-old Venezuelan got a little closer to making it happen on Friday.
Yokohama star Ramirez, seeking his 2,000th hit in Japan, came up a little short of history but had a pair of hits to put himself one away from the milestone in the BayStars' 2-1 victory over the Swallows in the first game of their three-game series.