Takashi Ogino had the chance to be the hero with the bases loaded and one out in the bottom of the 11th inning. It would've been fitting too, with the Chiba Lotte Marines star playing in his second game of the season, after missing most of 2012 with a leg injury.
The stage was set for Ogino to bring in the winning run in dramatic fashion. Only the Seibu Lions beat him to the punch.
Ogino was at the plate when a pitch from Seibu Lions starter Tatsuya Oishi passed through catcher Ginjiro Sumitani's legs, allowing the winning run to score from third in the Marines 3-2, 11-inning win on Thursday at QVC Marine Field.