TOKOROZAWA, Japan (Interstat) — The Saitama Seibu Lions, powered by a four-run first inning and a dominant start from right-hander Natsuki Takeuchi, defeated the Chiba Lotte Marines 5-2 on Saturday evening at Seibu Dome to even their three-game series.

A crowd of 27,263 watched as the Lions immediately seized control against Lotte starter Haruya Tanaka. After a leadoff groundout, Sosuke Genda and Taiga Kojima hit back-to-back singles. Seiya Watanabe followed with an RBI single to shallow left, plating Genda for the game’s first run. Tanaka nearly escaped further damage after a force out and a walk loaded the bases with two outs, but Alexander Canario delivered the decisive blow. The Seibu right fielder laced a three-run double into the gap in right-center, clearing the bases and staking the Lions to a 4-0 lead before many fans had settled into their seats.

That early outburst proved sufficient for Takeuchi, who expertly managed the Marines’ lineup over seven strong innings. The Lions’ ace allowed just four hits and one earned run, striking out two and walking none. He faced minimal trouble, with Lotte’s only run against him coming in the sixth inning. Atsuki Tomosugi led off with a walk, Misho Nishikawa singled, and Kyota Fujiwara followed with another single to load the bases with no outs. Takeuchi induced a crucial 6-4-3 double play grounder from Kyuto Ueda, which allowed a run to score but effectively defused the threat. He then got Neftali Soto to ground out to shortstop to end the inning, preserving a 5-1 lead.

The Lions had added an insurance run in the fourth. Canario led off with a double, advanced to third on a groundout, and scored on a two-out single by Masayuki Kuwahara.

Takeuchi’s performance was a return to form following a hard-luck loss on April 4 against Rakuten, where he threw seven shutout innings but received no run support in a 2-1 defeat. He improved his record to 1-1.

Lotte’s other run came via a solo home run from pinch-hitter Daito Yamamoto off reliever Ryota Itogawa in the eighth inning. It was Yamamoto’s first hit of the season. The Marines managed only five hits total and went 1 for 7 with runners in scoring position, stranding four.

Following Itogawa, Seibu closer Hakua Iwaki worked a perfect ninth inning, needing just eight pitches to retire the side in order and secure his fourth save of the season. Lotte reliever Akira Yagi provided two scoreless innings of relief to keep his team within reach.

The loss went to Tanaka, who fell to 1-1. He lasted six innings, yielding eight hits and all five Lions runs, all earned, while striking out three.

The victory improved Seibu’s record across all competitions to 5-8-1, while Lotte fell to 5-9. The result flipped the script from Friday’s series opener, which the Marines won 6-3, and ensured the Lions would have a chance to win the series in Sunday’s finale.

The game’s outcome defied some pregame projections. While Interstat’s ELO system gave Seibu a 52.7% probability to win, Lotte had been installed as a 1.5-run favorite on the betting spread. The total of seven combined runs also went over the posted over/under line of 5.5, contrary to the simulator’s projected 3-1 Lions victory.

For the Lions, Canario’s three-RBI double stood as the key offensive moment, while Kuwahara and Watanabe each drove in a run. For the Marines, Soto doubled for one of the team’s few extra-base hits aside from Yamamoto’s late homer.

The series concludes Sunday afternoon at Seibu Dome. The Marines will then return home to face the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters in a three-game set starting Tuesday. The Lions embark on a six-game road trip beginning Tuesday in Osaka against the Orix Buffaloes.