Rookie right-hander Satoshi Nagai limited the damage to two runs in eight efficient effective innings, leading the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles to a 5-4 win over the Fukuoka Softbank Hawks in the Pacific League on Tuesday.
Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles starter Satoshi Nagai releases a pitch against the Fukuoka Softbank Hawks at
Fullcast Stadium in Sendai on Tuesday. The Eagles won 5-4.
KYODO PHOTONagai (1-0), a No. 1 draft pick making his debut start in the rotation, struck out nine with three walks and benefited from a wild outing from hard-throwing Hawks right-hander Nagisa Arakaki, who allowed five runs in seven innings at Fullcast Stadium.
Lions 5, Fighters 0
At Goodwill Dome, Seibu's Hideaki Wakui threw a three-hitter in his first shutout win of the season and Jeff Liefer delivered a grand slam en route to a blanking of Hokkaido Nippon Ham.
Buffaloes 4, Marines 3
At Chiba Marine Stadium, Tuffy Rhodes and Mitsutaka Goto hit two-run homers and Dan Serafini and three relievers held the opposition to three runs as Orix rallied for a win over Chiba Lotte.
CENTRAL LEAGUE
Dragons 5, Tigers 0
At Nagoya Dome, Veteran lefty Masahiro Yamamoto threw a three-hit shutout Tuesday, striking out seven over the distance in Chunichi's victory over Hanshin.
Carp 3, Giants 1
At Skymark Stadium, Hiroki Kuroda allowed one unearned run while scattering three hits in eight-plus innings, leading Hiroshima past Yomiuri.
BayStars at Swallows -- ppd.