Marines rally but fall short

CHIBA — In a scene straight out of last year's Japan Series, the Chiba Lotte Marines were mounting a late-inning rally against the Chunichi Dragons.

Fall classic revisited: Dragons southpaw Yudai Kawai competes against the Marines, Chunichi's 2010 Japan Series foe, on Tuesday in the series opener at QVC Marine Stadium. KYODO

Chunichi has put that heartbreak behind them. This time, they made sure the Marines came up short.

Kei Nomoto hit a tie-breaking two-run single in a four-run eighth inning and closer Hitoki Iwase avoided a meltdown in the ninth as the Dragons opened the interleague schedule with a 6-5 win over the Marines on Tuesday night at QVC Marine Field.

Facing reliever Carlos Rosa with the bases loaded in the eighth, Nomoto hit a single down the first-base line that drove in two runs and gave the Dragons a 5-3 lead.

Pinch hitter Takehiro Donoue followed with a run-scoring single to extend the lead later in the inning.

Unlike in the final game of last season's Japan Series, there was no late-game magic for the Marines this time.

But that wasn't for lack of trying.

Chunichi reliever Takuya Asao shut Lotte down in the eighth, but Iwase began the ninth by giving up a double to Kazuya Fukuura.

The next batter, Kei Hosoya, was retired, but Yoshifumi Okada was hit with a pitch putting runners on first and second. Shota Ishimine hit a long fly ball for out two, but Tadahito Iguchi followed him with an RBI single.

Marines cleanup hitter Kim Tae Kyun then hit a run-scoring single to make the score 6-4 as Iguchi advanced all the way to third.

Iwase composed himself with the tying run at third and retired Toshiaki Imae to end the game.

Despite allowing two runs, Iwase earned the save, his seventh of the season. Iwase now has 283 career saves, trailing all-time leader Shingo Takatsu by three.

Masafumi Hirai earned the win in relief. Tatsuya Uchi, who allowed all four runs in the eighth, took the loss.

Hirokazu Ibata drove in a pair of runs for Chunichi, finishing 2-for-4. Masahiko Morino, who started the eighth-inning rally with a game-tying sacrifice fly, was 1-for-3 while Masahiro Araki led all batters with three hits.

Hosoya had a big day for the Marines in his season debut, hitting a single in his first at-bat and his first career home run the next time up.

"I'm glad I could hit my first homer," said Hosoya, who finished 2-for-3. "I had a good image from my previous at-bat."

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