is a Japanese

Japanese people

The are an ethnic group originating in the Japanese archipelago and are the predominant ethnic group of Japan. Worldwide, approximately 130 million people are of Japanese descent; of these, approximately 127 million are residents of Japan. People of Japanese ancestry who live in other countries...

 Nippon Professional Baseball player with the Yomiuri Giants

Yomiuri Giants

The are a professional baseball team based in Bunkyo, Tokyo, Japan. The team competes in the Central League in Nippon Professional Baseball, the top level of professional play in Japan. They play their home games in the Tokyo Dome, opened in 1988. The English-language press occasionally calls the...

 in Japan's Central League

Central League

The or is one the two professional baseball leagues that constitute Nippon Professional Baseball in Japan. The winner of the league championship plays against the winner of the Pacific League in the annual Japan Series. It currently consists of six teams from around the country,The Central League...

. As a rookie in 2008, Ochi was a key member of a young Giants bullpen that came within three outs of a Japan Series title. Ochi was the losing pitcher in Game 7 of that series against the Saitama Seibu Lions, after he hit Lions second baseman Yasuyuki Kataoka

Yasuyuki Kataoka

is a Japanese Nippon Professional Baseball player with the Saitama Seibu Lions in Japan's Pacific League.-External links:...

. Kataoka then stole second and third, then was driven home to tie the game. Ochi put another man on and was ultimately charged with what proved to be the series-winning run.

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