The Orix Buffaloes finally snapped their nine-game losing streak on Sunday, pinch-hitter Yuki Miyazaki plating the go-ahead run with a seventh-inning infield single in a 2-1 comeback win over the Lotte Marines.
The Buffaloes, who last won on May 16, were poised to be swept by the Pacific League cellar dwellers after Katsuya Kakunaka's first-inning RBI single put Lotte in front.
Orix starter Taisuke Yamaoka (1-4) pitched his way out of two-out, two-on jams in the second and sixth innings. Kenya Wakatsuki's one-out, seventh-inning RBI double off Lotte's Ryota Sekiya (0-1) tied it at Zozo Marine Stadium.
With two outs and runners on second and third, Seiya Dohi got Miyazaki to hit a comebacker, but the reliever failed to field it and all the runners were safe.
Closer Yoshihisa Hirano, who had a nine-day break before allowing the Marines a walk-off RBI single on Friday, held on for his 10th save thanks to a superb throw from center fielder Shunta Goto. With two outs, Goto fielded Takashi Ogino's bouncing single up the middle. His throw was on the button and runner Shota Omine was out by a mile.
Although their losing streak ended, Orix has already tied the franchise record for losses in one month with 19. The Buffaloes will need to win both of their first two interleague games against the Central League's Yakult Swallows on Tuesday and Wednesday to avoid setting a new mark for futility.
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Eagles 13, Lions 2
At Kobo Park Miyagi, Rakuten became the first team to win 30 games, getting at least a hit an inning and every starter getting at least one of the team's 17 hits against Seibu. Takayuki Kishi (4-1) held his former team to two runs on three hits over seven innings, while the Lions' Makoto Aiuchi (0-1) allowed eight runs in two-plus innings.
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Hawks 6, Fighters 1
At Sapporo Dome, Kodai Senga (6-1) yielded a run over eight innings and SoftBank teammate Seiji Uebayashi went 3-for-4 with four RBIs, including a seventh-inning, three-run shot off Nippon Ham's Luis Mendoza (2-3).
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Central League
Carp 3, Giants 2, 10 innings
At Tokyo Dome, Hiroshima won its fifth straight to take the league lead after Brad Eldred tied the game with a two-run homer in the seventh and Ryoma Nishikawa hit a 10th-inning, RBI double off Yomiuri right-hander Arquimedes Caminero (0-2).
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Swallows 7, Dragons 1
At Nagoya Dome, Yakult snapped its five-game losing skid after jumping to a 6-0 lead in the second off Chunichi's Raul Valdes (1-4). Wladimir Balentien went 3-for-5 with two RBIs, while Tomoya Hoshi (2-2) held the Dragons to a run over seven innings.
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BayStars 6, Tigers 2
At Koshien Stadium, a Jose Lopez two-run double and a three-run home run from Yasutaka Tobashira in the third off Taiki Ono (0-1) helped lift DeNA past Hanshin. Shota Imanaga (2-3) allowed a run over five innings to earn the win.
