Shohei Otani belted two homers for the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters on Saturday, propelling them to an 8-1 win over the Pacific-League leading Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks.

Otani, the Fighters ace pitcher and designated hitter, blasted an opposite-field, two-run shot off Kodai Senga (8-1) in the third and smashed another two-run shot that traveled over the center-field wall in the seventh off reliever Shinya Kayama, taking his season tally to 16.

"I had really good at-bats," said Otani, who has pitched just once in relief (on July 24) since his last start on July 10 was cut short by a blister on his pitching hand.