Julio Zuleta homered twice and drove in five runs as the Softbank Hawks edged the Hiroshima Carp 6-5 in a preseason exhibition game Saturday.
Zuleta hit a three-run homer in the first inning and added a two-run shot in the third off Hiroshima starter Takayuki Oshima. Softbank right-hander Kazumi Saito allowed three runs and eight hits in six innings of work at Hiroshima Stadium.
Hiroshima lefty Ken Takahashi retired all six batters he faced with three strikeouts.
Lions 9, BayStars 4
At Yokohama Stadium, Seibu third baseman Takeya Nakamura hit a pair of homers and went 3-for-5 with four RBIs, increasing his preseason home run tally to five. It was a bad day for Yokohama pitchers, with Daisuke Miura giving up two homers and four runs in four innings and closer Marc Kroon allowing three runs in one inning.
Tigers 13, Swallows 2
Hanshin left-hander Tsuyoshi Shimoyanagi threw three shutout innings and Andy Sheets went 3-for-4 and drove in six runs at Koshien Stadium. Yakult right-hander Katsutoshi Ishido had a shaky start, allowing four runs in three innings.
Marines 3, Fighters 2
Lotte right-hander Kevin Beirne held Nippon Ham to one run in five innings while striking out four and walking none. Kazuya Fukuura hit a three-run triple for Lotte, while Nippon Ham rookie infielder Keizo Kawashima was 2-for-3 at Chiba Marine Stadium.
Dragons 1, Eagles 0
Yuya Ishii took a step forward in his bid to join Chunichi's starting rotation as the left-hander scattered two singles in five scoreless innings against Rakuten. Rookie outfielder Atsushi Fujii singled home the only run in a 2-for-3 outing at Nagoya Dome.
Buffaloes 4, Giants 0
Hidetaka Kawagoe and four Orix relievers combined for a three-hit shutout of Yomiuri. Designated hitter Hirotoshi Kitagawa had a solo homer and an RBI single at Osaka Dome.