Yasunori Kikuchi pitched seven innings of two-run ball, Wily Mo Pena tied the game and drove in a go-ahead run and the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles beat the Orix Buffaloes 5-3 on Saturday.
Kikuchi (4-3) allowed seven hits, struck out three and walked two to halt the Eagles' losing streak at six. Dominican infielder Pena rapped out an RBI single off Yuki Nishi to tie the game 2-2 in the sixth, before a two-out RBI double off Rakuten reliever Shohei Tsukahara (0-3) in the eighth gave them the upper hand at Kyocera Dome.
"I did allow runners on base but I hung on determined not to give up the third run," said Kikuchi. "I was really pleased to see him (Pena) batting in runs."