FUKUOKA — Conventional wisdom states that the Hawks are thought to have an overwhelming edge over the Marines with their one-win advantage, plus, with two of the best southpaw pitchers in the game in Toshiya Sugiuchi and Tsuyoshi Wada.
But Yoshihisa Naruse performed as though he was defying the odds and the reputation that the aforementioned lefties are better pitchers.
The left-handed Naruse went the distance, outdueling Sugiuchi in the Marines' 3-1 win over the Fukuoka Softbank Hawks in Game 1 of the Pacific League Climax Series final stage on Thursday night.