Tomoyuki Sugano stood on the mound at Tokyo Dome in the top of the ninth inning of his first postseason game with a three-run lead, over 45,000 people screaming — Yomiuri Giants fans in support, Hiroshima Carp fans in opposition — and the bases full of other team's players.
At the plate was hulking Carp slugger Brad Eldred, who with one swing of the bat could put Hiroshima ahead and turn the Central League Climax Series Final Stage into a real series again.
This was very likely one of the moments Sugano dreamed about during his year in self-imposed exile. He'd wanted to pitch for the Giants (presently managed by his uncle Tatsunori Hara) so badly, he left the game for a year after being drafted by another team.