Yuki Yoshimura hit a three-run homer and Hayato Terahara pitched a two-hitter for his second consecutive shutout as the Yokohama BayStars beat the Yakult Swallows 5-0 on Friday.
Yoshimura connected off Ryo Kawashima (4-3) for his 22nd home run to extend the team's lead to 4-0 in the sixth inning at Jingu Stadium. Terahara (12-12) allowed two singles and struck out nine. Takahiro Saeki drew a bases-loaded walk in the first and Tatsuhiko Kinjo had an RBI double in the seventh.
PACIFIC LEAGUE
Marines 1, Eagles 0
At Chiba Marine Stadium, Shingo Ono and three relievers combined on a six-hit shutout as Chiba Lotte edged Tohoku Rakuten.
Lions 6, Hawks 2
At Fukuoka's Yahoo Dome, Takahiko "G.G." Sato went 3-for-5 with three RBIs and rookie right-hander Takayuki Kishi took a shutout into the ninth.
Ito resigns
Kyodo News Seibu Lions manager Tsutomu Ito offered his resignation on Friday to take the blame for his team's lackluster performance in the Pacific League.
"I feel responsible for snapping the club's 25-year streak of finishing in the top half of the league," said Ito, who made the offer to club president Shinji Kobayashi in a Fukuoka hotel before Seibu's final game of the season, against the Softbank Hawks at Yahoo Dome.
"I thought today was the last chance to tell the players in person about my resignation," the 45-year-old said.