Toshiaki Imae hit a two-run homer to open the scoring, and Shunsuke Watanabe came within two outs of pitching his seventh complete game this season as the Chiba Lotte Marines edged the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters 4-3 Monday night.
Chiba Lotte Marines third baseman Toshiaki Imae is congratulated by his teammates after
hitting a two-run homer in the second inning Monday at Chiba Marine Stadium. The Marines beat
the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters 4-3.
Imae delivered a blast to left-center off Cory Lee (1-2) in the second inning at Chiba Marine Stadium, extending his hitting streak to 15 games since July 17.
"The ball went up high, so I didn't think that that would be a home run. Somehow it made it over the fence," Imae said.