Rookie left-hander Shingo Matsuzaki pitched six strong innings as the Rakuten Eagles beat the Lotte Marines 5-2 in a preseason game Saturday.
Matsuzaki allowed two runs -- one earned -- and seven hits with five strikeouts and three walks at Chiba Marine Stadium in an outing expected to earn him a spot in the Eagles' starting rotation.
Lotte right-hander Yasutomo Kubo was roughed up for five runs and seven hits in 5-1/3 innings. Lotte cleanup hitter Saburo Omura went 2-for-2 with an RBI single.
Hawks 5, Giants 4