TOKOROZAWA, Saitama Pref. — The Saitama Seibu Lions went from a fifth-place team in 2007 to Japan Series champions in 2008.
Following a sixth-place finish last season, the Fukuoka Softbank Hawks are determined to do the Lions one better this year.
D.J. Houlton overcame his past misery at Seibu Dome with eight strong innings of one-run ball, and Jose Ortiz and Hitoshi Tamura homered as the Hawks dealt a blow to the Lions' playoff hopes with a 6-1 win on Saturday.