Sosuke Genda hit a tiebreaking single in the top of the ninth inning as Japan's World Baseball Classic team beat the SoftBank Hawks 4-2 in its second warm-up game Sunday.
With the game tied at 2 in the ninth, Japan speedster Ukyo Shuto reached on a one-out single, stole second and moved to third on a throwing error by Hawks catcher Kenta Tanigawara.
Genda then lined a single to right at Sun Marine Stadium in Miyazaki. Seiya Matsubara, a support member of Samurai Japan, added an insurance run with a sacrifice fly.
Shuto, who had entered the game as a pinch-runner, also helped Japan tie the game with his legs in the fifth inning.
"We continue to play must-win games," Japan manager Hideki Kuriyama said. "It was a good game. We showed we can score runs in various ways, even when we are in a tough situation. The way we won the game today gives us momentum."
Triple Crown-winning third baseman Munetaka Murakami went hitless in three at-bats with a walk for Japan.
On the mound, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, one of Japan's expected starters in the March 8-21 WBC, had a mediocre outing, allowing two runs, one earned, and two hits in three innings of work.
The reigning Pacific League MVP struck out three and walked one.
Taisei Ota pitched a perfect eighth, and Ryoji Kuribayashi closed out the ninth for Japan.
The team will wrap up its training camp in Miyazaki on Monday before moving to Nagoya for two games against the Chunichi Dragons on March 3 and 4.
