Luis Mendoza was hardly at his best Wednesday, but the former Kansas City Royal battled into the sixth inning to earn the win as the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters beat the Seibu Lions 6-3.

Sho Nakata drove in two runs for the Fighters, who exploited Yusei Kikuchi's poor command of his breaking pitches. The visitors made consistent contact to tag the lefty for five runs on seven hits and two walks before 25,661 at Saitama Prefecture's Seibu Prince Dome.

The Lions turned two double plays behind Kikuchi (6-7) in his five-inning stint. One run was unearned.