4-run 9th gives Japan another comeback win

For the second time in four games against the visiting All-Stars from the Major Leagues, Samurai Japan showed that they can't be counted out until the final out.
Trailing, 3-1, heading into the top of the ninth at Mazda Zoom-Zoom Stadium in Hiroshima on Tuesday, Japan put a four-spot on the board for a 5-3 win and a three games to one lead in the six-game MLB Japan All-Star Series. Padres reliever Kirby Yates, who was victimized by a walk-off homer in the series opener, was on the hook for four runs in two-thirds of an inning.
Japan's dramatic comeback spoiled what looked to be a happy homecoming for Dodgers righty Kenta Maeda, who pitched for Hiroshima in the NPB for eight seasons from 2008-15. Maeda allowed just one hit while striking out two in his two innings of work.

Rhys Hoskins opened the scoring with a solo home run in the second inning -- the lone run of the game until the seventh.

Ronald Acuña Jr. and Juan Soto, the budding friends who finished 1-2 in the National League Rookie of the Year Award voting results that were announced just hours before the game, made it 2-0 in the seventh. After Acuna reached on an error by Samurai Japan first baseman Hotaka Yamakawa and stole second, Soto lined a double to right to give the MLB squad a bit of breathing room.

But just an inning later, Shogo Akiyama raced around the bags for an inside-the-park homer after his fly ball down the left-field line got past a diving Soto. Japan nearly tied it a batter later, but Ryosuke Kikuchi's drive to deep center hit the top of the wall, and he was forced to settle for a double that chased Astros right-hander Collin McHugh from the game.

The MLB All-Stars tacked on a third run in the eighth on Phillies slugger Carlos Santana's sacrfice fly, but it wasn't enough to even the series.
Japan All-Star Series schedule (watch games live on MLB Network, with replays at 8 p.m. ET)
• Nov. 8: MLB All-Stars 9, Yomiuri Giants 6
• Friday: Samurai Japan 7, MLB All-Stars 6
• Saturday: Samurai Japan 12, MLB All-Stars 6
• Sunday: MLB All-Stars 7, Samurai Japan 3
• Today: Samurai Japan 5, MLB All-Stars 3
• Wednesday: 7 p.m. local/5 a.m. ET
• Thursday: 6 p.m. local/4 a.m. ET