Ernesto Mejia hit a tie-breaking solo homer for the Seibu Lions in their 5-4 Pacific League victory over the Chiba Lotte Marines on Saturday.
Before 25,618 at QVC Marine Field, Mejia, who tied for the PL lead with 34 home runs in his first partial season in Japan in 2014, made the first entry in his 2016 long-ball ledger in the sixth inning.
"It was a nice forkball hanging for a strike," Mejia said. "I wasn't looking for that, but I saw it and I guess I reacted really well, put good contact on the ball.