Senichi Hoshino, who managed three different teams to the Japan Series and finally won it in 2013, brought his managing career to a close on Tuesday as his Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles played their final game of the season.
The Eagles, the 2013 NPB champions, blew an early-one run lead in the seventh inning before falling 3-2 to the Orix Buffaloes in 10 innings before 26,236 at Kobo Stadium. The loss left the Eagles in last place in the Pacific League.
Although a victory was not in the cards, the Eagles gave their skipper a fitting ceremony afterward that brought the sell-out crowd to its feet.