OSAKA, Japan (Interstat) — In a tightly contested pitchers’ duel that finally broke open late, the Orix Buffaloes edged the Chiba Lotte Marines 3-1 on Tuesday night at Osaka Dome, using timely hitting and a lockdown bullpen to secure the series opener.

A crowd of 22,646 watched as both starting pitchers set a tone of efficiency and missed opportunities through the early innings. For Lotte, Yuto Kimura delivered a sterling performance, bouncing back emphatically from a rough outing six days prior. The right-hander allowed just one earned run on four hits over six strong innings, striking out three. His only blemish came in a tense third inning, where he navigated traffic but ultimately surrendered a run on a two-out, bases-loaded walk to Ryo Ohta.

Orix starter Taito Takashima was nearly as effective, holding the Marines to one run on five hits across 5 1/3 innings, fanning six batters. He departed with one out in the sixth inning after Akito Takabe doubled and Kyota Fujiwara was hit by a pitch. Reliever Luis Perdomo entered and, despite allowing an infield single to Misho Nishikawa that loaded the bases, managed to limit the damage. After striking out Neftali Soto, Perdomo issued a walk to Ryusei Terachi that forced in the tying run. He escaped further trouble by getting Gregory Polanco to fly out, preserving a 1-1 deadlock.

The stalemate was broken by Orix’s relentless pressure in the latter innings. The Buffaloes reclaimed the lead in the seventh against Lotte’s bullpen. With two outs and a runner on second following a double by Kenya Wakatsuki, Kotaro Kurebayashi singled to put runners at the corners. Yuma Mune then delivered a clutch single to shallow right, scoring Wakatsuki to make it 2-1.

Orix added a critical insurance run in the eighth when left fielder Ryoma Nishikawa led off the inning by launching a solo home run to right field off reliever Shota Suzuki. Nishikawa finished the night three for four, driving in a run and scoring another. The Buffaloes threatened to blow the game open later in the inning, loading the bases with two outs, but could not further capitalize.

The Marines, who out-hit Orix 11-8 but went one for nine with runners in scoring position, mounted a final threat in the ninth against Orix closer Andres Machado. Ryusei Terachi and Gregory Polanco led off with back-to-back singles, putting the tying runs on base with no outs. A sacrifice bunt advanced both runners into scoring position. Machado, however, rose to the occasion, striking out pinch-hitter Toshiya Satoh and Koki Yamaguchi in succession to end the game and seal his second save of the season.

The Orix bullpen quartet of Perdomo, Soichiro Yamazaki, Ren Mukunoki, and Machado combined for 3 2/3 scoreless innings, allowing just two hits while striking out seven. Perdomo earned the win, improving to 1-2. Keisuke Sawada, who was charged with the go-ahead run in the seventh, took the loss for Lotte, falling to 1-1.

The most important sequence of the game unfolded in the top of the ninth inning. Trailing by two, the Marines’ first two batters reached base, bringing the potential tying run to second base with nobody out. Facing Machado, Lotte successfully sacrificed both runners into scoring position, setting up a prime chance to tie or take the lead with less than two outs. Machado’s response—two devastating strikeouts against pinch-hitters—clinched the victory for Orix, showcasing the high-leverage relief that defined the Buffaloes’ win.

The victory pushed Orix to a .500 record at 5-5, while Lotte fell to 4-6. The two teams continue their three-game series on Wednesday night in Osaka.