For the reigning Japan Series champions, April was not a very kind month.

News photoFighters outfielder Hichori Morimoto, left, cruises past the third base coach with a smile after hitting a two-run homer in the sixth inning against Orix at Sapporo Dome on Saturday afternoon. Hokkaido Nippon Ham defeated the Buffaloes 7-3. KYODO PHOTO

After falling to the Seibu Lions 6-2 on Apr. 19, the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters didn't win again until April 26 — a span a six games, and their worst losing streak in two seasons.

Showing its championship mettle, Nippon Ham has bounced back nicely, winning seven of its last eight games.

What's been the key? An explosive offense.

"I think it's been confidence as much as anything," manager Trey Hillman said. "It's the confidence that we can score runs without the No. 6 and No. 3 hitters we had last year."

Those two hitters, Michihiro Ogasawara (the reigning Pacific League MVP who's now employed by the Yomiuri Giants) and retired Tsuyoshi Shinjo created a big offensive void when they left. Recent results, however, have built confidence in the Nippon Ham dugout.

The Fighters have scored five or more runs in four of their last seven contests. Leadoff hitter Hichori Morimoto, who replaced Shinjo in center field, is batting .315 with seven stolen bases and is a team leader. Through May 2, outfielder Tomochika Tsuboi leads the team with a .320 batting average while designated hitter Fernando Seguignol is tops in homers (eight) and RBIs (19).

Makoto Kaneko has also been key in Nippon Ham's turnaround. Batting .296 with three home runs and 15 RBIs, the Chiba native batted ninth earlier in the year. However, with the Fighters struggling to score runs, Kaneko was moved up in order to shake things up a bit.

"We've changed the order a little bit," Hillman said. "Kaneko has been solid for us in the nine slot and we moved him up to six. Him staying productive has helped."

That the Fighters haven't gotten down on themselves also helped the the players overcome their early season stumbles.

"We knew that at some point it was going to turn around," Seguignol said. "We have too good of a ballclub for it not to. We were pretty relaxed. Guys knew we were going to get out of that and start winning some games. We just gotta keep positive.

"Like I said, this is a great team. We've had ups and downs and a couple of our arms went down. But once we get them back we'll be right there again."

While the Fighters have had their troubles, they know not to expect any sympathy from their opponents. Fresh off a Japan Series title, Nippon Ham faces the best the Pacific League has to offer night in and night out.

In previous years, the Fighters may have flown under the radar, but a championship season has put a target on their backs.

"Teams are focused, definitely," Seguignol said. "They're trying to play us tougher than last year. That's their focus, 'The Fighters are coming to town.' We see the ace (pitcher) now, not the third guy or fourth guy. It's tough."

Nippon Ham has an ace up its sleeve as well in 20-year-old pitcher Yu Darvish. A 195-cm fireballer, Darvish (4-1) has been the class of the Pacific League so far, leading the league in strikeouts (68), innings pitched (60) and complete games (six) and boasting the league's second-best ERA (1.95).

On the mound when the Fighters snapped their losing streak (a two-hit complete game shutout of the Chiba Lotte Marines on April 26), Darvish always gives Nippon Ham a chance to win.

"Darvish is our ace, and has done a great job," Seguignol said. "He's just showing what he's capable of doing. If he keeps doing what he's doing and is injury-free, he's going to be phenomenal. He's indescribable. We're talking about a legend in the making. It's been fun to be around him and see that."

As amazing as he can be at times, Darvish can't pitch every game. Meaning the pressure will be on the offense to provide its pitching staff with decent run support, which will be vital if the Fighters hope to dig themselves out of the hole their six-game skid put them in.

They've done just that recently, scoring 10 against the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles on April 28, pushing across seven on April 29 and 11 on Apr. 30 before hanging eight on Lotte May 3. All wins.

Trailing the first-place Fukuoka Softbank Hawks (22-12-1) by six games, the Fighters know there's still a long season ahead.

In the midst of a welcoming six-game home stand however, Nippon Ham is looking to gain some ground on the league leaders.

"Hopefully, we can catch our breath at home and gain some momentum," Hillman said.