Kazuo Matsui delivered off the bench for the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles, singling in the tying run in the ninth inning, and finishing the game at shortstop in a 4-4, 12-inning tie on Monday night.
On a rare Monday night game, a good crowd of 24,931 at Kobo Park Miyagi saw their Pacific League-leading Eagles twice come back from two-run deficits with ageless veteran Kazuo Matsui taking center stage at the end.
Buffaloes closer Yoshihisa Hirano allowed back-to-back singles to open the ninth, and twice came within one strike of earning his 16th save. With two outs and runners on the corners, Kazuya Fujita swung at a bouncing forkball that eluded catcher Kenya Wakatsuki. Fujita easily reached first as Zelous Wheeler scored.