SoftBank 5, at Lotte 4

CHIBA (Interstat) — The Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks edged the Chiba Lotte Marines 5-4 Monday afternoon at Chiba Marine Stadium, rallying for a run in the ninth inning to take the rubber match of a three-game series and extend their Pacific League lead. SoftBank improved to 54-33-1, while Lotte fell to 40-43-1. The Hawks have won two straight against the Marines after losing three of four earlier in July. Lotte struck first in the bottom of the first when leadoff hitter Kyota Fujiwara crushed a solo home run to right-center off SoftBank starter Tomohisa Ohzeki. The Marines added another run in… Read more...