Kosuke Kato combined with two pitchers on a three-hitter and Masahide Kobayashi matched a Japanese record of 22 consecutive "save points" in the Lotte Marines' 3-2 victory over the Kintetsu Buffaloes on Monday.
Second-year southpaw Kato (8-11) gave up a two-run homer to Norihiro Nakamura in the third inning and walked four at Osaka Dome but was otherwise solid as he struck out five in 7 2/3 innings, clinching his fourth straight win against the Osaka club.
Kobayashi retired the side in order in the ninth for his 26th save of the season and tied the 1998 mark set by Kazuhiro Sasaki, then playing for the Yokohama BayStars, with one win and 21 saves. Sasaki's record of 22 consecutive saves is yet to be broken.