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Tokyo Dome | Attendance: 45,133 | Time: 3h 38m | Series tied at 2.

The Fighters explode for 8 runs to take game 4 and guarantee a Nippon Series finish in Sapporo.

Hisanori Takahashi struck out the side to start the game and managed to hold the Fighters at bay in the second despite putting runners on first and third.  But Takahashi couldn't work his way out of the 3rd when the Fighters pushed 4 runs across the plate:

With one out, Kensuke Tanaka (2-for-5, 3B, R) and Hichori Morimoto (1-for-4, R, RBI) reached on singles.  Tanaka stole third on the first pitch to put runners on first and third.  Atsunori Inaba (0-for-4, BB, R) walked to load the bases.  Shinji Takahashi (3-for-5, HR, 3 R, 3 RBI) hit a single into left to give the Fighters a 2-0 lead, runners on first and second.  After Terrmel Sledge (1-for-3, BB, 2B) struck out for the second out of the inning, Eiichi Koyano (3-for-4, 2B, 4 RBI) followed with a bases clearing double into the gap in right.  Tomohiro Nioka (0-for-3) finally ended the inning by grounding out to second.

The Giants returned a run in the bottom of the third after Hayato Sakamoto (1-for-3, 2 BB, R) led off the inning with a double, advance to third on a wild pitch, and scored on a single into right by Tetsuya Matsumoto (3-for-5, R, RBI).

Takahashi's solo homer in the top of the 5th put the Fighters back up by 4 runs.  A squeeze bunt by Morimoto following a 1-out triple by Tanaka in the 7th made it 6-1.  Three consecutive hits to start the 8th led to 2 more runs for the Fighters:

Takahashi led off with a single.  Sledged doubled to right to put runners on second and third.  Toshimasa Konta entered the game as a pinch hitter for Sledge.  Koyano then cleared the bases with a single in left.

The Giants finally got some offense going in the bottom of the 8th:

With 1 out, Matsumoto reached on a fielding error by Yuji Iiyama (SS).  Michihiro Ogasawara (2-for-5, R) singled to right to put runners on first and second.  Alex Ramirez (1-for-4, HR, R, 3 RBI) then nailed a home run into right field stands to bring the Giants to within 4 runs of the Fighters.

Hisashi Takeda entered the game in the bottom of the 9th.  While he did close out the game, he did so only after making things a little interesting.  With runners on first and second and 2 out, Ogasawara lined a hit off the wall in right but was gunned out at second trying to stretch his single into a double.

Missed Opportunities
Fighters
2nd: runners on first and second, 1 out > Nioka grounded into a force, runners on first and third, Tsuruoka struck out
3rd: runner on third, 2 out > Nioka grounded out
8th: runners on first and second, 2 out > Tanaka flied out

Giants
1st: runners on first and second, no out > Ogasawara fouled out to first, Ramirez flied out, and Kamei grounded out
2nd: runner on second, no out > Abe grounded out, runner to third, T. Kimura grounded out, and H. Takahashi grounded out
5th: runners on first and second, 2 out > Ogasawara grounded out
8th: runners on first and third, 2 out > T. Kimura struck out

Fighters: 5 LOB, 0 DP
Giants: 8 LOB, 3 DP

News
The Giants outhit the Fighters 13-11. ... Morimoto failed on a squeeze bunt before he succeeded in laying one down in the 7th. ... Yagi allowed the lead batter to reach base in each of the 5 innings he pitched. ... The Fighters only recorded one 1-2-3 inning against the Giants offense.

Nippon Ham Fighters

Yomiuri Giants

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...Game 5 starters will be Dicky Gonzalez (YOM) for Shugo Fujii (HAM).

...Masataka Nashida on the victory:

I was on the seat of my pants until the very end.  It was a very exciting game.  We won an away game and now we're guaranteed a trip back to Sapporo.  I want to extend this series as much as possible, even if it's just by one game.  We'll score as many runs as possible for game 5.   I'd like to play our game as we usually do.  I want the team to hold out for the win.

...Tatsunori Hara on the loss:

The line-up had a tough time getting things going with no out...  We got runners on base but couldn't do anything after that.  Helping your teammates out of jams is part of the game, but we couldn't do that tonight.  The players are always focused while they play.  We need to turn the page and start over again tomorrow.

...According to previous Nippon Series games, the Nippon Ham Fighters now have a 60% chance of winning the Series.