Second-year outfielder Tomoaki Sato hit a grand slam in the fifth inning for his career-first homer as the Seibu Lions rallied to beat the Pacific League-leading Fukuoka Daiei Hawks 10-8 Monday.
Tatsuya Ozeki and Kazuhiro Wada had back-to-back RBI singles to cut Daiei's lead to 5-4 and Sato connected off rookie Tsuyoshi Wada (12-4) to lead the home team to victory. Daiei's Wada allowed eight runs in five innings at Seibu Dome.
Fumiya Nishiguchi (6-3) earned the win despite allowing six runs in six innings.
Marines 4, Buffaloes 3
At Chiba Marine Stadium, Makoto Kosaka hit one of three consecutive doubles and pinch hitter Kiyoshi Hatsushiba drove the go-ahead run as Lotte edged Kintetsu.
BlueWave 4, Fighters 3
At Yahoo BB Stadium in Kobe, Yoshitomo Tani had a two-run go-ahead double to highlight a three-run third as Orix beat Nippon Ham to snap a four-game losing streak.
Sasaoka off roster
HIROSHIMA (Kyodo) Hiroshima Carp right-hander Shinji Sasaoka, who was knocked out in his shortest outing of the season Sunday, was removed from the team's active roster Monday after complaining of lower back pain, officials of the Central League club said.