D. J. Houlton did everything he could to keep the Fukuoka Softbank Hawks within striking distance of the Yomiuri Giants.
He was reduced to a spectator in the eighth inning, but teammate Alex Cabrera made sure his efforts didn't go to waste.
Cabrera hit a come-from-behind two-run double in the eighth to break up a pitcher's duel between Houlton and Giants starter Shun Tono in the Hawks' 2-1 win on Thursday at Tokyo Dome.