Kazuya Fukuura hit a two-out, bases-clearing double to snap a fifth-inning tie Tuesday, propelling the Chiba Lotte Marines to their longest winning streak in 45 years with a 4-3 triumph over the Rakuten Eagles.
Nippon Ham Fighters slugger Michihiro Ogasawara hits a
grand slam in the fifth inning of Tuesday's game at Invoice Seibu Dome. The
Fighters trounced the Seibu Lions 14-7.
Fukuura's clutch hitting made it 4-1 and the Marines held on for their 11th straight victory after the last-place Eagles closed to within a run in the seventh on back-to-back RBI singles by Akihito Fujii and Tadaharu Sakai at Chiba Marine Stadium.
Lotte moved 16 games over .500 for the best record in the Pacific League, 3.5 games ahead of the second-place Softbank Hawks.