FUKUOKA – Ariel Miranda allowed three hits over six scoreless innings as the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks beat the Orix Buffaloes 9-2 on Sunday to preserve their slim Pacific League lead.
Miranda (4-3), who struck out four and walked one, won for the first time since May 19. The Hawks entered the day with a half-game lead over the second-place Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters and the win prevented SoftBank from being swept at home by the last-place Buffaloes.
“Considering the team’s situation, I of course went to the mound determined not to drop this game,” Miranda said after the contest at Yafuoku Dome.
“I’m happy I could pitch this well with so many children in the stands today. My own two kids are the most important thing in my life, so I want to do well for all the children.”
Hawks relievers Ryoma Matsuda and rookie Hiroshi Kaino each worked a perfect inning of relief, although the Buffaloes broke through for two runs in the ninth against rookie Fumimaru Taura.
Orix starter Daichi Takeyasu, a right-handed rookie acquired over the winter, allowed seven runs over two-plus innings to fall to 2-1 with his first career loss.
“He threw so many hittable pitches,” Orix manager Norifumi Nishimura said. “We’ll need to find out what happened. But he’s going to get more chances going forward.”
SoftBank opened the scoring in the first, after a Kenta Imamiya walk and Seichi Uchikawa’s 350th career double. With two outs, Nobuhiro Matsuda singled both runners home.
The Hawks followed up with two-run homers from Seiji Uebayashi in the second, Alfredo Despaigne in the third, and Imamiya in the fourth.
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Giants 16, Tigers 4
At Tokyo Dome, Alex Guerrero and Ginjiro Sumitani each hit a grand slam as CL-leading Yomiuri crushed Hanshin.
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Source : Baseball – The Japan Times