TOKOROZAWA, Saitama Pref. (Kyodo) Masahiro Tanaka, the 2007 Pacific League Rookie of the Year, struck out nine in seven innings in the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles' 5-3 preseason win over the Seibu Lions on Friday.
Tanaka, who is expected to start March 22 against the Softbank Hawks in the Eagles' second regular-season game, increased his strikeout total to 22 in 18 innings this spring. He allowed three runs on six hits and a walk.