Hirokazu Ibata hit a two-run single and Masafumi Hirai pitched two shutout innings to help the Chunichi Dragons to a 2-0 win over the Seibu Lions in a preseason game Wednesday.
Seibu right-hander Hideaki Wakui had an impressive outing in his bid for a spot in the starting rotation, striking out five in two perfect innings at Nagoya Dome. Seibu's 18-year-old rookie catcher Ginjiro Sumitani had a hit and caught a runner stealing.
Hawks 3, Eagles 3
At Yahoo Dome, pinch-hitter Satoru Morimoto hit an RBI triple and scored the tying run on a Katsuhiko Miyaji double in the bottom of the ninth inning in a game that ended in a tie after nine innings.
Rakuten right-hander Hiroki Yamamura held Softbank to three hits in four shutout innings. Kenshi Kawaguchi singled home two runs in the fourth inning that gave Rakuten a 3-0 lead.