A pair of big at-bats by Sho Nakata and Brandon Laird against tiring lefty Yusei Kikuchi lifted the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters to a 5-3 win against the Pacific League-leading Seibu Lions on Friday.
Amid speculation this week of his being posted to the major leagues this autumn, Kikuchi was left in too long, and blew a one-run lead in the seventh inning. Kikuchi (9-3) allowed four runs — three earned — on 11 hits and a walk. He struck out eight over his seven-inning, 127-pitch stint.
With two outs in the seventh and the tying run on third, Kikuchi went up against the heart of the Fighters order for the fourth time, and three straight singles — by Kensuke Kondo, Nakata and Laird — put the visitors in front at MetLife Dome.