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The Saitama Seibu Lions went 3-3 against the Fukuoka Softbank Hawks and Orix Buffaloes during a six-game road trip in West Japan.
They sit at 14-15-1 just a half-game out of A-class behind the Orix Buffaloes. It was also a milestone week for Tatsushi Masuda in career saves.
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Game 1: Shunsuke Sato vs. Shunta Ishikawa
Sato could only last six innings before giving up a runner in the 7th with only two earned runs. Yurisbel Gracial hit a two-run HR off Katsunori Hirai as the Hawks pulled away.
The Lions stranded multiple runners on base, including a situation when Haruka Yamada was up and the bags were loaded, but it resulted in a groundout.
Hawks 3 Lions 0
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Game 2: Wataru Matsumoto vs. Kazuki Sugiyama
Hotaka Yamakawa hit two HRs and Brian O'Grady added another as the Lions scored early and often against the Hawks.
Matsumoto went seven innings with only one run allowed, five strikeouts and two walks.
With Yoshinobu Mizukami and Tetsu Miyagawa off the roster due to COVID-19, Keisuke Honda was called up and closed the game in the 9th.
Lions 8 Hawks 2
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Game 3: Burch Smith vs. Colin Rea
Smith left the game after 1.1 innings due to discomfort in his right arm. With the bases loaded and Kaito Yoza entering the game, he forced two flyouts on Masaki Mimori and Isami Nomura to get out of a jam.
Hotaka Yamakawa hit a three run HR in the first inning and the Lions bullpen was able to hang on with 7.2 innings of combined work.
Yoza earned his first win of the year going 3.2 innings after Smith's departure.
Lions 4 Hawks 2
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Game 4: Kona Takahashi vs. Jacob Waguespack
Takahashi threw eight shutout innings, but couldn't earn the win with zero run support. The Lions had seven hits and even loaded the bases on walks for an inning, but the bullpen of Orix kept runs off the board when it mattered.
Waguespack threw five innings in a close contest. It came down to the 9th inning with Kaima Taira on the mound as he walked two batters and only recorded a single out. Yuma Mune delivered the only timely hit of the night in a walkoff.
Buffaloes 1 Lions 0
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Game 5: Sachiya Yamasaki vs. Chihiro Sumida
Masataka Yoshida had two solo HRs as the Lions continued to fail scoring with runners on base. Sumida went six innings with only two runs allowed, but had a no decision.
Shoya Makino had his first extra base hit while Ryota Kawano had his first hit and RBI in NPB, but it wasn't enough as multiple chances were botched again.
Buffaloes 3 Lions 2
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Game 6: Taisuke Yamaoka vs. Dietrich Enns
This was another pitcher's duel as both starters only allowed one run and stranded plenty of base runners. Enns was able to walk the tight rope going seven frames. As the Lions couldn't get a timely hit, Haruka Yamada hit a sacrifice fly in the second inning.
It wasn't until the top of the 9th when Hotaka Yamakawa hit a solo HR to break the 1-1 deadlock. The bullpen still had drama as Kaima Taira had a bases loaded jam before escaping with a grounder.
Tatsushi Masuda earned his 150th career save the hard way, stranding two runners in scoring position and getting a flyout for the milestone.
Lions 2 Buffaloes 1
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It wasn't pretty, but a split is better than a 2-4 record with a sweep in Osaka as Japan enters golden week.
Masuda and Taira had shaky outings, but it wasn't the worst scenario. The offense still can't hit away from Yamakawa, but the starting pitchers were amazing this week.
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