Hiroyuki Kobayashi came within three outs of his first career complete game shutout and Matt Franco drove in three runs as the Lotte Marines defeated the Daiei Hawks 8-1 in the Pacific League on Tuesday.
Seibu Lions baserunner Shogo Akada slides home safely Tuesday at Nagoya Dome. The Lions
beat the Orix BlueWave 9-5.
Kobayashi (3-1), who is in his eighth year with the Marines, carried a three-hitter into the ninth but allowed Daiei a run on a bases-loaded RBI groundout and was relieved with one out and two on. He struck out seven and walked two along the way at Fukuoka Dome.
Franco hit a two-run homer off Lindsay Gulin (3-1) in the sixth and connected for an RBI double to highlight a four-run seventh, matching catcher Toshiya Tsuji with a team-high three hits to lead a 16-hit attack.
Lions 9, BlueWave 5
At Nagoya Dome, Masahide Kaizuka sparked a four-run rally in the ninth inning on a no-out, bases-loaded RBI single as Seibu sent eight batters to the plate in the key frame that featured three straight walks issued by Orix pitchers.
Buffaloes 11, Fighters 2
At Sapporo Dome, Hisashi Iwakuma struck out 10 and went the distance against Nippon Ham on 146 pitches while receiving support from Norihiro Nakamura and Hirotoshi Kitagawa, who had three RBIs each to contribute to Kintetsu's third straight victory.
CENTRAL LEAGUE
Dragons 2, Carp 1
At Hiroshima Stadium, Shigeki Noguchi pitched 8 2/3 strong innings and Eiji Ochiai got the final out on one pitch as Chunichi overcame a ninth-inning scare to edge the Carp.
BayStars at Tigers -- ppd.