held his form at pivotal points

楽天の田中将大投手がオリックスを１０安打２失点に抑え、今季８度目の完投を達成し、開幕からの連勝を２１に伸ばし、シーズン最多連勝をマークしたのはご存知の通り。

ここのheld his form at pivotal pointsは野球が専門のGPクンに聞きたいところですが、要するに「（悪いながらも）要所を抑えるピッチング」というおなじみのフレーズに相当するようですね。（UG）　

Rakuten ace Tanaka scores 21st straight win of season to set record

Rakuten Eagles pitching ace Masahiro Tanaka won his 21st straight game of the season on March 13, setting a new Japanese professional baseball record.

Tanaka, 24, who has won all of his games since the beginning of the season, pitched a complete game against the Orix Buffaloes at Kleenex Stadium Miyagi in Sendai to reach the mark.

In a game against the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters on Sept. 6, the ace had equaled the record of 20 consecutive wins in a season that had been set in 1957 by the late pitcher Kazuhisa Inao.

Including games from last season, his overall winning streak now stands at 25.

Tanaka allowed 10 hits in the game on Sept. 13, but held his form at pivotal points. He allowed two runs in the ninth inning, but Rakuten emerged victorious, winning the game 6-2.

http://mainichi.jp/english/english/newsselect/news/20130914p2a00m0na006000c.html

本人は失点したのがくやしかったようで、快挙にはそっけなかった感じでした。その向上心たるやさすがプロです。