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The Saitama Seibu Lions went 4-2 for the week against the Chiba Lotte Marines and Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters as they moved into first place on percentage points in front of the SoftBank Hawks.
It's the first time they've seen first place since April and been in some position since April of 2021.
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COVID-19 hits the team
A total of 17 people on the Lions roster and coaching staff tested positive for COVID including Sosuke Genda, Tatsushi Masuda, Kazuo Matsui and Shunsuke Sato. With many deactivations off the roster, several were called up, but no changes happened to team practices nor activities aside from those with COVID sitting out.
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Chiba Lotte Marines
The Lions committed multiple errors in the first game to lose, but out-pitched the Marines to win the series. Dietrich Enns provided five scoreless innings in a win while Brian O'Grady hit his 12th HR of the season.
Despite some jams in the bullpen, Yoshinobu Mizukami and Keisuke Honda worked through a bases loaded situation and stranded a runner on third base for three consecutive innings, including a play from the latter at the plate to preserve a one run lead.
Marines 4 Lions 2
Lions 3 Marines 0
Lions 2 Marines 1
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Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters
The Lions failed to score a run off Naoyuki Uwasawa to lose the first game. However, they rebounded in the second taking advantage of some errors and a four-run inning, including a clutch hit from Seiji Kawagoe.
Kaima Taira had to work through a bases loaded scenario and gave up a run, but forced a line out by Yuki Nomura which ended a 7-game winning streak for the Fighters.
The Lions took the series with a team effort from Kaito Yoza and other relievers combining for one run allowed in the third game.
Fighters 1 Lions 0
Lions 4 Fighters 3
Lions 5 Fighters 1
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While the Lions are in the midst of a nine-game stretch on consecutive days, it's remarkable how they overcame a COVID outbreak in the team and still found a way to win.
The bullpen has been the rock and even though Masuda isn't there, they still stayed strong to hang on and climb into first place through Monday's games. Let's hope it continues.
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