SAPPORO (Interstat) — Natsuki Takeuchi pitched seven innings of four-hit ball, striking out eight and walking none, as the Seibu Lions defeated the Nippon-Ham Fighters 2-1 on Friday evening, July 10, at Sapporo Dome. Takeuchi (6-4) allowed one earned run, improving Seibu’s record to 46-34-3. Hiroshi Kaino earned his seventh save with a perfect ninth inning, striking out two. The visiting Lions scored in the seventh on Masayuki Kuwahara’s solo home run to left-center and added a run in the eighth on Tyler Nevin’s sacrifice fly. Nippon-Ham took a 1-0 lead in the third when Shun Mizutani grounded into a fielder’s choice, scoring a runner from third. The Fighters managed only five hits off three Seibu pitchers. Hiromi Itoh pitched seven innings, allowing one run on five hits with seven strikeouts, but took a no-decision. Hiroya Shimamoto (2-1) was charged with the loss after giving up two hits and one run in the eighth. Seibu outhit Nippon-Ham 8-5. Attendance was 30,775. Game time was 3 hours, 1 minute. Nippon-Ham fell to 47-37-2. The victory moved Seibu within a half-game of the Fighters.