InsideJapan News Network

Chiba Lotte Marines surged to an impressive 12-1 win over Orix Buffaloes in the Japanese Baseball league yesterday (April 27th), with a star performance from starting pitcher Yuki Karakawa.

The 21-year-old recorded a career-high 12 strikeouts, allowing the Buffaloes just four hits in the entire eight innings, Japan Times reported.

Top batsman Toshiaki Imae made three for four to help the Marines to their first double digit victory of the season.

Orix Buffaloes largely failed to deal with a strong shoreline breeze, which often affects the QVC Marine Field stadium in Chiba.

Imae, the Most Valuable Player of last year's Japan Series, said: "The wind was pretty strong, (but) I feel good about my batting right now and could take care of that."

As a result of the midweek win, Chiba have now won all of their last six home games.

Elsewhere in the Pacific League, Alex Cabrera and Hitoshi Tamura drove in two runs apiece as the Fukuoka Softbank Hawks beat the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters 5-0 to regain the top spot.

Written by Mark Smith 


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