CHIBA — Tsuyoshi Nishioka sent ozeki Chiyotaikai an emphatic message in the third inning of the Chiba Lotte Marines' game against the Hanshin Tigers. The sumo star got the message loud and clear. So did the Tigers.
Nishioka helped spark a six-run first inning to back starter Naoyuki Shimizu and help erase an early deficit as the Marines tamed the Tigers 10-6 in front of a crowd of 30,022 on Saturday afternoon at Chiba Marine Stadium.
With Lotte trailing 2-0 in the first, Nishioka led off with a walk and stole second before the Marines scored six runs in five at-bats on consecutive RBI singles by Saburo Omura, Shoitsu Omatsu and Tomoya Satozaki, a sacrifice fly from Jose Ortiz and Benny Agbayani's two-run home run.