Carlos Mirabal saw his hopes of a perfect game evaporate in the bottom of the ninth inning Wednesday, but he still managed to toss a one-hit shutout in leading the Nippon Ham Fighters to a 4-0 win over the Chiba Lotte Marines at Chiba Marine Stadium.
Mirabal mixed a 145-kph fastball and curveball effectively and was perfect through the eighth inning. But in the bottom of the ninth with none out, pinch-hitter Kenji Yoshitsuru singled to spoil the party.
Mirabal struck out five and issued no walks.