Osaka Kintetsu Buffaloes outfielder Koichi Isobe hit a two-run homer in the sixth inning as a select group of players beat the Japanese national team 3-1 in an Asian Championship warmup game Saturday.
Seibu Lions ace Daisuke Matsuzaka started for the national team but a sloppy defense gave the select players an early 1-0 lead in the first inning at Fukuoka Dome. Seibu shortstop Kazuo Matsui had an error and runners reached first and second with one out after a walk before a grounder got by first baseman Michihiro Ogasawara of the Nippon Ham Fighters to score a run.