By Steve Trautlein

Sports Nov. 17, 2011 - 06:43AM JST ( 1 )

The Softbank Hawks evened the Japan Series at two games apiece with a 2-1 victory over the Chunichi Dragons at Nagoya Dome on Wednesday night.

For the second consecutive game, the Hawks jumped out to an early lead, scoring two runs in the top of the first inning off Dragons starter Yudai Kawai. First baseman Hiroki Kokubo delivered an RBI single with one out and runners at the corners, and third baseman Nobuhiro Matsuda followed with a sharply hit ball to second that became a run-scoring error when first baseman Tony Blanco mishandled a sure double-play relay throw from shortstop Masahiro Araki.

The turning point of the game, however, came in the bottom of the sixth inning, when the Dragons, trailing 2-1, loaded the bases with no outs against Hawks starting pitcher DJ Houlton. Manager Koji Akiyama called in reliever Masahiko Morifuku, who retired the next three Chunichi hitters in order. The Dragons’ lone run came on an RBI single by Araki in the fourth.

Game five of the best-of-seven series is Thursday night at Nagoya Dome.