The Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks' lineup combined for 16 hits on Sunday to claim their three-game series on the road against the Saitama Seibu Lions.

While the Hawks' bullpen thwarted the Pacific League's defending champions, last year's Japan Series winners had back-to-back five-run innings in their 16-5 victory over the Lions at MetLife Dome.

SoftBank catcher Takuya Kai, the 2018 Japan Series MVP, opened the scoring by leading off the third with a home run and drove in the first of five runs in the fourth against Seibu starter Kona Takahashi (2-2). The right-hander gave up seven hits and six runs over four innings.