Instead of being the hero, the 35-year-old outfielder displayed the all-around game that has made him Japan's leader.
"What I can do, every moment, I might realize that something is needed or [do something] according to the situation that presents [itself] at [a certain point in] the game," Aoki said earlier of his leadership role. "So whatever advice I can give to anybody, I intend to do so. But in this preparation method that we had, I think the team went through many unexpected situations. So we have to overcome them.