Infielder Kazuya Fukuura homered and Tomohiro Kuroki (2-0) struck out 12 in completing the first shutout of the new season as the Chiba Lotte Marines blanked the visiting Orix BlueWave 4-0 in Pacific League action Friday night.
Hawks 6, Fighters 5
Defending PL champion Daiei overturned a three-run deficit to edge Nippon Ham as an RBI double from infielder Hiroki Kokubo sparked a four-run spurt in the bottom of the sixth inning at the Fukuoka Dome.
Brady Raggio picked up the win in his first start of the season despite allowing four runs on seven hits in six innings, while Rodney Pedraza worked the ninth for his third save as the Hawks moved to 4-1 atop the PL standings.
Buffaloes 2, Lions 1
Infielder Norihiro Nakamura smacked a solo homer off Daisuke Matsuzaka (0-2) for the go-ahead run in the seventh inning as the Kintetsu defeated struggling Seibu in Saitama Prefecture.