Nakajima gets Lions lead, bullpen perfect in win over Eagles
TOKOROZAWA, Saitama--The Seibu Lions have turned to a newcomer at the back of the bullpen, but the offense stayed in the hands of old reliable.
Hiroyuki Nakajima capped a three-run rally with a two-run double to the wall in right center as Seibu topped the Raktuen Eagles 5-4 at Seibu Dome on Sunday.
The Lions’ No. 3 man had three hits and raised his RBI total to 41 to move him into a tie for second in the Pacific League. His two-out two-bagger came minutes after Luis Garcia had given the Eagles a 4-2 lead with his second homer since joining the team earlier this month.
After the Lions got the lead, they got 1-2-3 innings from Hsu Ming-chie and recently acquired Hirotaka Egusa following Kazuhisa Ishii's (3-3) departure, and rookie submariner Kazuhisa Makita retired the side in order in his new role as closer.
HAWKS 5, FIGHTERS 2
Hiroki Kokubo had an RBI single in a three-run first and followed with a run-scoring hit in a two-run second as front-running SoftBank avoided a sweep at FYJ Dome by smothering Hokkaido Nippon.
Tadashi Settsu (7-3), who was moved to starter this season, struck out a career-high 12 and the Hawks also avoided falling into to a tie atop the PL with the Fighters.
MARINES 3, BUFFALOES 2
Closer Yasuhiko Yabuta struggled to finish off Orix, allowing two runs and the go-ahead runners on in the ninth, but wriggled out of trouble for his 11th save as Lotte won at QVC Marine Field
Kazuya Fukuura’s two-run double in the eighth gave Lotte a 3-0 lead and proved to be the difference.
CENTRAL LEAGUE
CARP 2, DRAGONS 0
Pinch-hitter Tomonori Maeda, who singled in the game-winning run in the same role in the series opener, smacked an RBI single to right in the eighth inning to break a scoreless tie as Hiroshima won the rubber game of its weekend home set against Chunichi.
Carp skipper Kenjiro Nomura was the first manager to be ejected in either league, getting the boot in the third inning for pushing an umpire during a disputed call at first base.
GIANTS 4, TIGERS 2
Hanshin starter Atsushi Nomi (3-6) lost to Yomiuri for the first time since July 10, 2009, allowing three runs over six innings to fall at Koshien Stadium.
Alex Ramirez had two RBI singles and rookie Hirokazu Sawamura (4-5) went seven shutout innings as Yomiuri beat Nomi for the first time in eight decisions.
BAYSTARS 4, SWALLOWS 1
Rookie righty Kota Suga (2-5) tossed a season-high six innings, scattering four hits, as last-place Yokohama topped front-running Yakult at Jingu Stadium.
Hichori Morimoto doubled in two in the third and Shuichi Murata added an RBI double in the sixth.
[Edited by: jgibson on Jun 27, 2011 9:48 PM]
TOKOROZAWA, Saitama--The Seibu Lions have turned to a newcomer at the back of the bullpen, but the offense stayed in the hands of old reliable.
Hiroyuki Nakajima capped a three-run rally with a two-run double to the wall in right center as Seibu topped the Raktuen Eagles 5-4 at Seibu Dome on Sunday.
The Lions’ No. 3 man had three hits and raised his RBI total to 41 to move him into a tie for second in the Pacific League. His two-out two-bagger came minutes after Luis Garcia had given the Eagles a 4-2 lead with his second homer since joining the team earlier this month.
After the Lions got the lead, they got 1-2-3 innings from Hsu Ming-chie and recently acquired Hirotaka Egusa following Kazuhisa Ishii's (3-3) departure, and rookie submariner Kazuhisa Makita retired the side in order in his new role as closer.
HAWKS 5, FIGHTERS 2
Hiroki Kokubo had an RBI single in a three-run first and followed with a run-scoring hit in a two-run second as front-running SoftBank avoided a sweep at FYJ Dome by smothering Hokkaido Nippon.
Tadashi Settsu (7-3), who was moved to starter this season, struck out a career-high 12 and the Hawks also avoided falling into to a tie atop the PL with the Fighters.
MARINES 3, BUFFALOES 2
Closer Yasuhiko Yabuta struggled to finish off Orix, allowing two runs and the go-ahead runners on in the ninth, but wriggled out of trouble for his 11th save as Lotte won at QVC Marine Field
Kazuya Fukuura’s two-run double in the eighth gave Lotte a 3-0 lead and proved to be the difference.
CENTRAL LEAGUE
CARP 2, DRAGONS 0
Pinch-hitter Tomonori Maeda, who singled in the game-winning run in the same role in the series opener, smacked an RBI single to right in the eighth inning to break a scoreless tie as Hiroshima won the rubber game of its weekend home set against Chunichi.
Carp skipper Kenjiro Nomura was the first manager to be ejected in either league, getting the boot in the third inning for pushing an umpire during a disputed call at first base.
GIANTS 4, TIGERS 2
Hanshin starter Atsushi Nomi (3-6) lost to Yomiuri for the first time since July 10, 2009, allowing three runs over six innings to fall at Koshien Stadium.
Alex Ramirez had two RBI singles and rookie Hirokazu Sawamura (4-5) went seven shutout innings as Yomiuri beat Nomi for the first time in eight decisions.
BAYSTARS 4, SWALLOWS 1
Rookie righty Kota Suga (2-5) tossed a season-high six innings, scattering four hits, as last-place Yokohama topped front-running Yakult at Jingu Stadium.
Hichori Morimoto doubled in two in the third and Shuichi Murata added an RBI double in the sixth.
[Edited by: jgibson on Jun 27, 2011 9:48 PM]