Takahiro Arai, the Central League's 2016 MVP, provided the off-the-bench heroics on Tuesday in the Hiroshima Carp's 4-3 win over the Yokohama BayStars.
Moments after the BayStars had taken a 3-2 lead against the league leaders at Yokohama Stadium, reliever Spencer Patton (3-3) retired the first two batters he faced but couldn't finish the job in the seventh inning.
After a flyout and a strikeout in the heart of the order, Patton walked hot-hitting Tomohiro Abe on four pitches and challenged catcher Tsubasa Aizawa.