Tigers 1, BayStars 1, 12 innings
At Osaka Dome, the Hanshin Tigers and the Yokohama BayStars ended up in a 1-1 tie after 12 innings.
Tatsuhiko Kinjo put Yokohama ahead with a solo homer in the fourth, but Atsushi Fujimoto singled home a run to tie the game in the bottom half.
Hanshin southpaw Kei Igawa and Yokohama right-hander Daisuke Miura each pitched eight strong innings in a duel.
Hawks 7, Buffaloes 2
In the Pacific League, Nobuhiko Matsunaka blasted a two run homer in the first inning as the front-running Softbank Hawks beat the Orix Buffaloes 7-2.
Matsunaka connected off Jeremy Powell (11-10) for his league-leading 39th homer in the first and added another run on an RBI single in the third for a 3-for-4 night.
Saito (13-0) allowed four hits in eight innings, with five strikeouts and two walks for his 13th straight decision Tuesday.
Fighters 6, Golden Eagles 2
At the Tokyo Dome, Fernando Seguignol belted a three-run homer in the bottom of the first inning and Atsunori Inaba added an RBI single in the fifth, handing the Nippon Ham Fighters a 6-2 victory over the Rakuten Golden Eagles, who have now lost seven games in a row.
Hisashi Takeda (1-0) collected his first win in two years after working two scoreless innings of relief for Naoyuki Tateishi, who gave up a two-run homer to Takeshi Yamasaki in the top of the first.
Marines 8, Lions 4
At Invoice Seibu Dome, Val Pascucci blasted a crucial homer in the third as the Chiba Lotte Marines beat Seibu Lions 8-4.
Shunsuke Watanabe (13-3) won his third start in a row after allowing 10 hits, while striking out 10 in 8 2/3 innings.
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