Hiroshima Carp rookie Takuya Kato came within two outs of a no-hitter in his first professional game on Friday.
The right-hander eventually gave up a run but did more than enough to guide his team to a 4-1 win over the Tokyo Yakult Swallows.
Kato issued his seventh walk in the ninth before Yakult cleanup man Wladimir Balentien's hit to left field, which dashed the 22-year-old's hope of becoming the second pitcher in NPB to get a no-hitter on his pro debut.