TOKOROZAWA, Saitama Pref. -- Third place is feeling a whole lot better than first has the last couple years for the Fukuoka Softbank Hawks.
Softbank's Homare Inamine delivers an RBI single in the seventh inning of Game 3 of the
first stage of the Pacific League playoffs at Seibu Dome on Monday. The Hawks won 6-1 to take the series
2-1. Softbank will take on Hokkaido Nippon Ham in the second stage.
KYODO PHOTOHomare Inamine hit a game-tying, pinch-hit single, Julio Zuleta blasted a three-run home run and Akihiro Yanase picked up his second win of the postseason as the third-seeded Hawks beat the Seibu Lions 6-1 on Monday afternoon, taking the first-stage Pacific League playoffs 2-1.