The Saitama Seibu Lions had a successful first full week of the season by going a combined 4-2 against the Orix Buffaloes and Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters.
They're currently tied for first place in the Pacific League with the Softbank Hawks having a 6-3 record.
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Game 1: Kaima Taira vs Luis Castillo
Taira pitched 5.2 shutout innings in a close affair. The only offense for the Lions came off an RBI groundout and sacrifice fly, where the latter was nearly an out. Ryusei Sato tagged up from third base and Orix Manager Satoshi Nakajima used a request when it looked too early on a fly ball. Umpires ruled this too inconclusive to overturn the safe call.
Keisuke Honda gave up a run in the 7th inning, but limited hr damage as the Lions relief pitchers preserved a small lead in the home opener.
Lions 2, Buffaloes 1
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Game 2: Natsuki Takeuchi vs Shunpeita Yamashita
Takeuchi threw seven shutout innings showing strong command and painting the corner. He limited Orix to only one hit and two walks.
Jesus Aguilar drew first blood with a timely hit following a stolen base from Shuta Tonosaki.
Manaya Nishikawa plated a run on a fielders choice while Ginjiro Sumitani scored another on an infield single.
Takeuchi winning his NPB debut mirrored what Chihiro Sumida accomplished two years ago as it happened against Orix.
Lions 3, Buffaloes 0
Game note: Brandon Tysinger was taken off the roster for a leg injury.
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Game 3: "Bo" Takahashi vs. Kohei Azuma
Bo gave up two runs through 5.2 innings with a manufactured one via a wild pitch and sacrifice fly. With an inherited runner, Yoshinobu Mizukami gave up a timely to Tomoya Mori which was the difference.
Azuma controlled the game with seven strong innings only allowing a solo HR to Shuta Tonosaki. The Lions had two chances of the bullpen, both squandered in the process. Sosuke Genda grounded into a double play and Takeya Nakamura grounded out, both times with the tying run in scoring position.
Buffaloes 2, Lions 1
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Game 4: Tatsuya Imai vs Hiromi Itoh
This game was a tight contest where Franchy Cordero hit his first HR of the year. Holding a 2-1 lead, Imai gave up a sacrifice fly and later a timely to Yuya Ginji, but good defense by Manaya Nishikawa on a relay preserved a deadlock.
Chances by the Lions were ruined by a failed squeeze attempt from Nishikawa and fly out from Yuto Koga.
Taishi Mameda loaded the bases in the 12th, leading to a walkoff sacrifice fly by Ariel Martinez and a loss.
Fighters 3, Lions 2 (12 innings)
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Game 5: Chihiro Sumida vs. Takayuki Katoh
Ryusei Sato and Junichiro Kishi hit back-to-back home runs which set the tone for the Lions to control this game.
Sumida pitched seven shutout innings with five strikeouts and one walk. Mizukami struggled in the 9th, where Abreu came in to record another save. Coming off the bench, Ryosuke Kodama added a timely.
Lions 5, Fighters 2
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Game 6: Wataru Matsumoto vs Kenta Uehara
The Lions offense exploded for a combined 11 runs off 12 hits, with five of those runs coming in the first four innings.
Matsumoto was also efficient, throwing eight innings with one run allowed, four hits and five strikeouts. His outing was only took 94 pitches. Yuta Nakamura made his Lions debut in the 9th to a scoreless frame.
It was such a successful day that even Hiyu Motoyama had a hit off the bench for his first in a Lions uniform.
Lions 11, Fighters 1
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