Shuhei Fukuda sparked a five-run second inning with an RBI double, Hiroki Yamada pitched seven shutout innings and the Japan Series champion Fukuoka Softbank Hawks routed the Samsung Lions of South Korea 9-0 on the second day of the Asia Series on Saturday.
Koji Akiyama's Hawks won their second game in a row after a 6-5 defeat over the Uni-President Lions of Taiwan on Friday.
"We had to win this game, so I'm glad we could do it," said Akiyama, who led the Hawks to their first Japan Series title in eight years this past season. "We used our running capability and this led to us scoring. My players have become good at figuring out the habits of catchers and pitchers they face for the first time."