TOKOROZAWA, Saitama Pref. — Yoshihisa Hirano finally ended his personal losing streak. He may have also ended the Seibu Lions' hopes of reaching the Pacific League Climax Series.
Tuffy Rhodes homered and Shinji Shimoyama broke a seventh-inning tie with an RBI single to back a solid start by Hirano in the Buffaloes' 3-2 win on Saturday at Seibu Dome.
It was a critical contest for the Lions, who are struggling to stay in the race to reach the Pacific League Climax Series.