The Pacific League-leading Fukuoka Softbank Hawks came from behind twice to beat the Seibu Lions 6-5 on Saturday afternoon.
Down by a run in the seventh before 35,556 at Yafuoku Dome, the Hawks took the lead for good against lefty reliever Tomomi Takahashi (1-3). Demoted to middle relief after 21 saves this season, the former closer surrendered a leadoff infield single, when he tried to barehand a shot off the bat of Kenji Akashi. After a sacrifice, the lefty grooved his first pitch to Yuki Yanagita, who swatted it to left for an opposite-field RBI double.
"Takahashi is a good pitcher, someone you're not going to get runs off easily, so my goal was just to get good swings," said Yanagita, who scored the go-ahead run from second with two outs when center fielder Shogo Akiyama dropped a fly ball in shallow center.