Derrick May singled home the winning run with two outs in the ninth inning Sunday to give the Chiba Lotte Marines a 3-2 "sayonara" win over the Seibu Lions -- the Marines' fifth straight win over the Lions this season.
May's sinking liner into the right field alley at Chiba Marine Stadium scored Kazuya Fukuura from second and made a winner of rookie left-hander Kosuke Kato as the unlikely leaders in the Pacific League strengthened their grip atop the standings.
Kato (2-1) went the distance on 130 pitches, scattering six hits and three walks to saddle Seibu with its fourth straight loss. Alex Cabrera connected off the rookie in the fourth inning for his league-leading 10th homer of the season.