OSAKA -- Yuji Yoshioka blasted a grand slam and Ken Kadokura (8-4) scattered seven hits over eight innings as the Kintetsu Buffaloes routed the Chiba Lotte Marines 9-2 at the Osaka Dome on Tuesday night.
Central League WonLostTiedPct.GB Yakult 65 46 5 .586 - Yomiuri 66 57 2 .537 5.0 Hiroshima 56 53 6 .514 8.0 Yokohama 54 58 3 .482 11.5 Chunichi 55 61 3 .474 12.5 Hanshin 48 69 1 .410 20.0 Pacific League WonLostTiedPct.GB Daiei 68 56 1 .548 - Kintetsu 68 57 2 .544 0.5 Seibu 69 58 0 .543 0.5 Lotte 59 62 2 .488 7.5 Orix 58 61 4 .487 7.5 Nippon Ham 47 75 3 .385 20.0
Tuffy Rhodes pursuit of Sadaharu Oh's single-season home run record is still holding at 53 after the slugger went 0-for-3 with a walk and struck out twice.