◆ Pacific League Nippon-Ham 3-5 Lotte (August 1st, ES CON FIELD)

Lotte took the lead in the ninth inning on Toshiya Sato catcher 's 12th two-run homer, securing a victory in their first game of August.

In the sixth inning, trailing by two runs, Shingo Ishikawa outfielder 's timely doble brought the game back to square one, but thanks to strong pitching from the relievers, the score remained tied in the ninth. Substitute Sato put Ryusei Ogawa infielder, who had hit a single to center to lead, to first base, and carried Nippon-Ham 's fourth pitcher, Ren Fukushima pitcher 's two seam fastball, to the right field seats.

After taking the lead with a home run by Sato, Lotte's closer, Rikuto Yokoyama pitcher closed out the game in the bottom of the inning, marking his 27th save of the season.

The series against Nippon-Ham is tied at one win and one loss, and pitcher Andre Jackson will start the third game on the 2nd.