Naoyuki Shimizu pitched seven effective innings and got run support from Tsuyoshi Nishioka's third-inning solo homer Tuesday as the Japan Series defending champion Lotte Marines won their first game of the season with a 2-0 shutout of the Nippon Ham Fighters.
Naoyuki Shimizu of the Lotte Marines pitches against the
Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters at Chiba Marine Stadium.
Shimizu (1-0) scattered seven hits with one walk and six strikeouts to lead Lotte to victory in front of a home crowd of 23,164 in the Pacific League game at Chiba Marine Stadium.
Nishioka homered with one out in the third followed by Toshiaki Imae's sacrifice fly to center in the fifth. Former Chicago White Sox right-hander Felix Diaz (0-1) took the loss after yielding two runs in six innings of work.