Nobuhiko Matsunaka led off the ninth inning with a solo homer Tuesday and lifted the Daiei Hawks to a 5-4 "sayonara" win over the Orix BlueWave in the first Japanese professional baseball game played in Taiwan since World War II.
Daiei overcame a three-run deficit with solo homers from Hiroki Kokubo, Noriyoshi Omichi and Koji Akiyama in the seventh inning at Tien Mou Stadium in Taipei.
Fighters 3, Marines 2
At Chiba Marine Stadium, Yukio Tanaka belted a game-tying solo homer and Sherman Obando smacked a solo clout for the winning run in a two-run sixth inning, helping Nippon Ham stop its losing skid to Lotte at four.
Lions 5, Buffaloes 2
Tatsuya Ozeki hit a two-run double in the top of the seventh inning to give Seibu a comeback win over Kintetsu at the Seibu Dome.
CENTRAL LEAGUE
Tigers 4, BayStars 2
Shinji Taninaka gave up five hits over 5 1/3 shutout innings for his first win in a month as Hanshin edged Yokohama at Hiratsuka Stadium.
With the victory, Hanshin returned to the Central League-leading position.
Swallows 2, Giants 1
Yakult rookie hurler Masanori Ishikawa allowed five hits over 6 1/3 innings to shut down Yomiuri and won his third decision of the season when Yakult defeated Yomiuri at the Tokyo Dome.
Yomiuri starter Kimiyasu Kudo (2-4) struck out 12, giving up four hits over eight innings.
Dragons 9, Carp 2
Chunichi collected six hits to score six runs in the sixth inning to beat Hiroshima at Gifu Stadium.