Seibu Lions owner Yoshiaki Tsutsumi denied press reports Tuesday that his club will merge with the Lotte Marines.
Hiroki Kokubo of the Yomiuri Giants hits a two-run homer off Chunichi starter Kenshin Kawakami at Tokyo Dome. The Dragons won 5-3.
"There will be no merger between Seibu and Lotte," Tsutsumi told reporters after holding talks with acting Lotte owner Akio Shigemitsu, one day before a key meeting of the 12 ballclub owners.