Fireworks Light Up Wakui, Hawks Win 7-2

One thing the SoftBank Hawks have been known for in seasons past is the ability to pound the baseball into submission. The Hawks did just that against the Saitama Seibu Lions today, and more importantly, did it against Seibu ace Hideaki Wakui.

Wakui was roughed up for 4 runs (3 earned) over 5 innings of work, giving up 5 hits, 3 walks, and 4 strikeouts. The Lions bullpen didn't fare much better, as Hirano and Onodera both gave up runs of their own, each doing 2 innings of work.

Rick Guttormson took the mound for SoftBank, looking to rebound from another bad start. He delivered, giving 6 and 2/3 solid innings, only giving up 2 runs on 5 hits, walking 3 and striking out 4. Nitkowski, Kume, and Yanase all combined for 2.1 scoreless innings.

The main offensive punch came from Nobuhiko Matsunaka. He surpassed his home run total for all of last year (15) today while clubbing 2 home runs the other way to right field. That brings his home run total to 16 and completes a 3-for-5 day with a single mixed in. Matsunaka led off the Hawks Lucky 7 with a home run, and jacked his 2nd home run in the top of the 9th after Nobuhiro Matsuda led off the inning with a triple.

The Hawks once again got off to a fast start in the 1st inning, with 3 straight singles off of Wakui to begin the game. Honda, Kawasaki, and Matsuda led to 2 runs. It could've been worse, as Restovich continued his hot hitting by ripping a single himself, but Nakanishi ended the inning by popping out to 2nd.

Seibu cut their deficit in half in the home half of the 2nd inning. Guttormson started the inning by hitting Nakamura, then Yoshihito Ishii doubled to knock in Nakamura.

In the top of the very next inning, SoftBank expanded the gap more. Kawasaki singled to lead off the inning, and after a strikeout of Matsuda, Matsunaka grounded into what was a sure 4-6-3 inning-ending double play, but Kataoka booted it to keep the inning alive. Restovich singled to drive in the speedy Kawasaki to make it 3-1.

Seibu was not going away, however. In the bottom of the 4th, Seibu once again halved their deficit, thanks to a single by Nakamura and a double by Hosokawa. With the score 4-2, Matsunaka put the final dagger in the Lions hopes by slamming his 1st home run of the day.

The Hawks swept this 2-game series against the Lions, and now have a very important weekend series against the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters at Sapporo Dome.