Pinch-hitter Matt Watson hit a go-ahead homer in the eighth inning and closer Masahide Kobayashi reached a new milestone Wednesday as the Pacific League-leading Chiba Lotte Marines edged the Chunichi Dragons 2-1.
Chiba Lotte Marines closer Masahide Kobayashi pitches against the Chunichi
Dragons on Wednesday at Nagoya Dome.
Kobayashi retired the side in order in the ninth to become the first pitcher in Japanese baseball to post 20 saves for six consecutive years.
Watson sent a 2-1 pitch from Masafumi Hirai (2-1) over the center-field wall to break a 1-1 tie in interleague action at Nagoya Dome, making a winner of rookie left-hander Yoshihisa Naruse (2-1).