Masanori Ishikawa of the Yakult Swallows pitches against the Orix Buffaloes in Game 4 of the Japan Series at Tokyo Dome on Nov. 24, 2021. (Kyodo)

       TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Masanori Ishikawa baffled batters for six innings and Domingo Santana scored twice as the Central League champion Yakult Swallows moved within one win of the Japan Series championship in a 2-1 Game 4 win over the Pacific League champion Orix Buffaloes on Wednesday.

       Since the Buffaloes came from behind in a three-run ninth to win Game 1 of the best-of-seven series in Osaka, the Swallows have won three straight and are now poised to win the CL's first Japan championship since 2012.

       Santana's homer at Tokyo Dome opened the scoring in the second. After his own error allowed the Buffaloes to tie it 1-1 in the top of the sixth, he walked and scored the go-ahead run in the home half of the inning.

       The 41-year-old Ishikawa (1-0), who turned pro just after the Swallows won their last Japan Series in 2001 draft, allowed an unearned run on a walk and three singles while striking out five. It was his first series win, after losing his previous two games in 2015.

       "To be entrusted with such an important game after my bitter experience the last time made me extremely motivated to do whatever I could to fulfill my manager's expectations," Ishikawa said.

       "I didn't hold back from the very first hitter. I didn't know how long I could keep the game from blowing up, and so I focused on being able to turn the game over to the bullpen in good fashion."

       Santana, whose two-run homer in Game 3 brought the Swallows from behind to win that seesaw game 5-4, blasted his second homer to open the second, off Buffaloes rookie Soichiro Yamazaki.

       Ishikawa held onto that 1-0 until the sixth. Orix leadoff man Shuichi Fukuda singled with two outs, and was moving on the pitch when Yuma Mune singled sharply to Santana in right. As Fukuda approached third he was waved home when Santana fumbled the ball.

       Veteran Orix right-hander Hirotoshi Masui took the mound and had nothing. A line-drive double play erased the leadoff runner, but Santana restarted the rally with a walk and Yuhei Nakamura singled him to second.

       Santana got a good jump and hustled home when Jose Osuna's hit skipped into center to put Yakult ahead.

       A trio of Yakult relievers, former closer Taichi Ishiyama, setup man Noboru Shimizu and current closer Scott McGough held onto the lead after Santana scrambled home to break the tie on an Osuna single.

       It was the third one-run game of the series, with the exception being Yakult's 2-0 shutout win in Game 2.

       "These close games every day are fatiguing," Swallows manager Shingo Takatsu said. "It seems like we can't get away from scraping to prevent them from scoring even one run while trying to snatch one for ourselves."

       "We really put together a great rally there with two outs. Santana drew that gritty two out walk to start things, and with two on, Osuna had a great at-bat working to get the pitch he wanted."

       "Those two (first-year) players have been such a blessing for us."

       Ishikawa became the second pitcher in series history to win a game after turning 40 following Hall of Famer Tadashi "Bozo" Wakabayashi, who won Game 1 of the inaugural 1950 Series at the age of 42.

       "Age is irrelevant in my mind when I go to the mound," Ishikawa said. "I can still compete, and I'm not done yet."

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