The BlueWave seem to have found a way to win without Ichiro Suzuki, Japan's best hitter the last seven years who recently left Orix to play for the Seattle Mariners. Tatsuya Shindo drove in four runs, including a three-run homer, and Masahiko Kaneda (3-0) struck out 10 while giving up eight hits over eight innings, carrying the Pacific League-leading BlueWave to an 11-5 victory over the Kintetsu Buffaloes on Wednesday at Green Stadium Kobe.
Orix has won eight games and tied one in its last 10 games and is leading the Daiei Hawks, who were idle Wednesday, by one game.
Orix took a 2-0 lead when Jiro Fujitate cracked a two-run homer in the first inning. Fujitate also singled home a run in a four-run fourth inning, which was capped by Shindo's three-run shot.