SoftBank 6, at Nippon-Ham 3

SAPPORO, Japan (Interstat) — A five-run sixth inning, capped by Kensuke Kondoh’s three-run homer, propelled the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks to a 6-3 victory over the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters on Saturday at Sapporo Dome. The win improved the Hawks’ record across all competitions to 10-3, while the Fighters fell to 6-7. The game, played before an evening crowd of 31,575, lasted 3 hours, 34 minutes. The decisive sixth inning transformed a tight pitchers’ duel into a comfortable Hawks lead. The frame began with Fighters starter Hiromi Itoh, who was saddled with the loss to fall to 1-1, walking Hotaka Yamakawa and… Read more...