Ryoma Nogami flirted with a no hitter Wednesday, dominating all night with a slow curveball and a nearly untouchable slider as the Seibu Lions pounded the Chiba Lotte Marines 7-2 to win their third in a row.
Nogami retired the first 13 batters he faced before issuing a walk to Toshiaki Imae with one out in the fifth inning. But he began to show signs of tiring when he walked a batter with two out in the sixth and a no-hitter wasn't in the tea leaves for the fifth-year right-hander on this night at Seibu Dome.
Ryan Spilborghs contributed with a two-run single and leadoff man Yasuyuki Kataoka went 3-for-4 in a 10-hit Lions attack. Nogami (3-1) allowed two hits, struck out six and walked two in a 103-pitch outing.