In the fifth game of the Japan Series, Senichi Hoshino went for the jugular.
Even already secure in the knowledge that at the very worst he'd be relying on two of this year's top pitchers to win two games at home in order claim the title, the fiery Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles manager pressed the issue with his team ahead 2-0 in the sixth, sending his second-best starter, Takahiro Norimoto, to the mound in relief to get a four-inning save on Thursday night.
When Norimoto didn't get the job done, allowing the defending Japan Series champion Yomiuri Giants to score in the seventh and ultimately tie the game in the bottom of the ninth, Hoshino stuck by his young hurler.