Ryosuke Kikuchi of the Hiroshima Carp had four hits, including a two-run sixth-inning home run and earned MVP honors in the Central League's 5-4 win over the Pacific League in Game 1 of Japan's All-Star series on Friday.
Before 8,992 masked fans at MetLife Dome outside Tokyo, the CL had to overcome an early 3-0 deficit. Kikuchi singled and scored in a two-run fifth inning, and homered with a man on in the sixth to give the CL stars a 4-3 lead.
"This is a nostalgic ballpark for me since I'd been coming here since I was little," Kikuchi said. "Hitting a home run here made me really happy."
The PL tied it with an unearned run in the seventh before the visiting CL team took the lead in the ninth against Lotte Marines closer Naoya Masuda.
Zelous Wheeler of the Yomiuri Giants and Kikuchi hit back-to-back singles to start the rally. A sacrifice and an intentional walk loaded the bases to set up the winning run.
Giants reliever Thyago Vieira earned the win with a scoreless eighth, while Hanshin Tigers closer Robert Suarez earned the save.
The PL opened the scoring on a two-run second-inning double by the Seibu Lions' Hotaka Yamakawa in his home park. The Marines' Brandon Laird homered to make it 3-0 in the third.
Game 2 is on Saturday evening at Sendai's Rakuten Seimei Park Miyagi.
