Atsunori Inaba hit a tiebreaking three-run homer in the sixth inning as the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters beat the Chiba Lotte Marines 5-3 on Tuesday to take the Pacific League lead for the first time since May 10.
Inaba's ninth home run of the season, off Seth Greisinger (6-5), gave Nippon Ham a 4-1 lead at QVC Marine Field. The veteran first baseman also hit a sacrifice fly and finished the night with four RBIs.
Lotte pulled within 5-3 in the seventh when Takashi Ogino doubled in two runs, but the Nippon Ham bullpen ended the home team's rally.