Nobuhiko Matsunaka hit his Pacific League-leading 44th homer Friday afternoon as the Softbank Hawks downed the Seibu Lions 5-4.
Noriyoshi Omichi of the Hawks waves to the crowd after hitting a two-run homer against the Lions on Friday at Invoice Seibu Dome. Fukuoka Softbank beat Seibu 5-4.
Matsunaka connected in the second inning at Invoice Seibu Dome with a blast off Seibu starter Junichi Kawahara. Munenori Kawasaki made it 2-0 in the fifth on a solo homer and Julio Zuleta widened the lead to 3-1 in the sixth with another solo shot, his 40th homer of the season.