Closer Dennis Sarfate was pressed into service early and it paid off as the Fukuoka Softbank Hawks overcame a late challenge to defeat the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters 5-4 on Saturday afternoon.
Sarfate (4-0) entered with one out in the eighth inning and the tying runs on base, he surrendered two RBI singles but got out of the inning and picked up the win after the Hawks took the lead in the bottom of the eighth.
The win, before a crowd of 38,500 at Yafuoku Dome, increased the Hawks' lead in the Pacific League to 9-1/2 games over the second-place Fighters.