Nobuhiro Matsuda's three-run, seventh-inning home run broke up a tie game as the Pacific League-leading Fukuoka Softbank Hawks came from behind to beat the Nippon Ham Fighters 7-4 on Wednesday afternoon.
Lee Dae-ho went 4-for-4 with a walk and a second-inning homer for the Hawks, who sent Rick van den Hurk to the mound in search of his fourth win. The right-hander, making his fourth start of the season, allowed three runs in five innings but did not figure in the decision at Hokkaido's Obihiro Stadium.
The win increased Softbank's lead atop the standings to 3-1/2 games over the Fighters, who saw their five-game winning streak come to a halt.