Pedro Valdes hit a game-tying homer and Shotaro Ide capped a two-out, fourth-inning rally with a two-run double as the Daiei Hawks went on to beat the Seibu Lions 9-2 in the Pacific League on Tuesday.
Nobuhiko Matsunaka hit a pair of homers and drove in four runs in going 3-for-5 at Fukuoka Dome, helping rookie hurler Takahiro Mahara win his first career start.
Mahara (1-0) pitched eight strong innings, allowing two runs on eight hits and two walks while striking out four. Kazuyuki Hoashi (0-1) took the loss after giving up seven runs in 4 1/3 innings.
Marines 4, Buffaloes 3
At Osaka Dome, Benny Agbayani and Tomoya Satozaki homered off closer Hector Carrasco (0-1) in the top of the ninth inning as Lotte rallied past Kintetsu.
Agbayani hit his first homer in Japan with a one-out shot before Satozaki's homer into the right-center stands gave Lotte the go-ahead run one out later. Reliever Takashi Tanaka (1-0) earned the win and Masahide Kobayashi pitched a perfect ninth for his second save.
Fighters at BlueWave -- ppd.
Valdes to have operation
NAGOYA (Kyodo) Chunichi Dragons right-hander Marc Valdes will travel to the United States on Thursday to undergo endoscopic surgery on his right knee, officials of the Central League team said Tuesday.