JAPAN – The Softbank Hawks overcame a pair of long balls by Takahiro Saeki to dispose of the Yokohama BayStars 7-3 in interleague play on Tuesday. The Hawks, which claimed their third consecutive win and ninth in 10 games, moved to just two games behind Pacific League leader Nippon Ham.

Softbank (26-21-2) erased an early 1-0 deficit at the Yahoo Dome with four runs in the fourth. Nobuhiko Matsunaka’s RBI single tied the score and Hitoshi Tamura – who was a triple shy of hitting for the cycle, finished off the four-run inning with a two-run blast.

Yokohama (17-30) closed the gap to 5-3, but Matsunaka connected for a two-run double in an eventful seventh to put the game out of reach. Tamura, who singled in the second and doubled in the sixth, walked angrily toward the mound after he was plunked by Hiroki Sanada’s pitch in the same inning, causing both benches to clear briefly.

Saeki hit a solo homer and two-run drive for Yokohama.

D.J. Houlton (4-3) allowed six hits, struck out three and walked two to post the win. Tom Mastny (0-2) was charged with the loss.

Tony Blanco drilled a game-winning two-run shot in the eighth inning – his second homer of the night – to help the Chunichi Dragons avoid a three-game losing streak with a 7-5 triumph over the Orix Buffaloes at the Kyocera Dome.

Blanco, who led off the second with a long ball, capped a five-run rally to dig out of a 5-2 hole. Kazuhiro Wada popped a solo home run in the seventh and Masahiko Morino’s two-run single tied the game an inning later before the American slugger delivered the knockout blow.

Masato Kobayashi (2-0) picked up the win out of the bullpwn while Tsuyoshi Kikuchihara (0-2) was tagged with the loss.

TUESDAY’S SCOREBOARD
Softbank Hawks 7, Yokohama BayStars 3
Chunichi Dragons 7, Orix Buffaloes 5
Hiroshima Carp 2, Nippon Ham Fighters 1
Seibu Lions 7, Yakult Swallows 3
Rakuten Eagles 3, Hanshin Tigers 2
Lotte Marines 0, Yomiuri Giants 0, tie, 12 innings

PACIFIC STANDINGS

CENTRAL STANDINGS

Photo courtesy of hereorthere.com

Tags: Japan