Shingo Ishikawa delivered a pinch-hit tiebreaking single in the seventh inning against his first pro team, leading the Chiba Lotte Marines to a 3-2 Pacific League win Saturday over the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters.
With the game tied 2-2 and runners on the corners with two outs, the former Fighter, who joined the Marines from the Yomiuri Giants earlier this week in a trade, singled to center off veteran reliever Naoki Miyanishi at Es Con Field Hokkaido.
Ishikawa's first RBI of the season made a winner out of Manabu Mima (1-4), who allowed two runs in seven innings.
"I wanted to drive in that run no matter what," said the outfielder, who made his season debut only Thursday with a pinch-hit single for Lotte. "The Fighters brought me to this world (professional baseball). Fans in Hokkaido are still cheering for me, even if I'm with some other team. I love Hokkaido. Once a game begins, I try to beat the Fighters, but I remember and appreciate things they've done for me."
In the seventh, Ishikawa pinch-hit for Katsuya Kakunaka, who had driven in a pair of runs with a first-inning homer and a game-tying single.
Nippon Ham starter Naoyuki Uwasawa (6-6) was charged with three runs in 6⅔ innings. Lotte closer Naoya Masuda picked up his league-leading 21st save.
In other action, Yoshinobu Yamamoto (8-3) struck out 13 in a complete game for his PL-leading eighth win as the Orix Buffaloes beat the Seibu Lions 5-1.
The last-place Lions have lost seven straight.
The Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles defeated the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks 8-1.
In the Central League, the Tokyo Yakult Swallows edged the Hanshin Tigers 3-2, the Yomiuri Giants shut out the Yokohama DeNA BayStars 6-0 and the Chunichi Dragons beat the Hiroshima Carp 5-1.