Paul Oseguera went five-plus innings to win his Japan debut and Fukuoka Softbank's bullpen pitched out of a series of jams as the Hawks defeated the Pacific League-leading Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles 4-0 on Sunday.
Oseguera, a 29-year-old whom the Hawks signed out of the Mexican League, allowed four hits, walked two and hit a batter, while striking out four. The lefty didn't allow a hit until the fourth inning, when he had a 4-0 lead in his pocket.
With the loss, the Eagles lead over the second-place Chiba Lotte Marines shrink to 3½ games.