Hosokawa, Honda lead the way in Hawks victory

So much for no offense from Toru Hosokawa. If he can go 1-for-3 in most games with an RBI or two, that will be much more than expected from the light-hitting catcher for offensive output. Helping him was second-baseman Yuichi Honda, who had two RBI's of his own in SoftBank's 7-3 exhibition win over the Yomiuri Giants before 23,922 at Yahoo! Dome.

Dicky Gonzalez took the brunt of SoftBank's offensive wrath, getting roughed up for three runs on five hits in six innings while striking out four and walking one.

The first two men out of the bullpen didn't fare much better. Yasunari Takagi and Takahiko Nomaguchi could only get one out between them, as they gave up a total of four runs on three hits with a walk as part of a four-run Lucky 7 for the home team. Uchikawa, Hosokawa, and Honda all had RBI's in the inning.

SoftBank's offense got going early as Munenori Kawasaki singled and came around to score in the first. The very next inning, Tamura doubled home Kokubo, and the Hawks' right fielder crossed the plate on an RBI groundout by Hosokawa.

Meanwhile, DJ Houlton turned in another great start, spinning four innings of one-hit ball while walking one, hitting one, and striking out six on just 48 pitches.

The Giants got to the Hawks bullpen though, as closer Takahiro Mahara gave up a run in the 5th, his only inning of work. A pair of singles by Yoshinobu Takahashi and Rusty Ryal set up runners at the corners, and Takahashi came in to score when Mahara uncorked a wild pitch.

Juan DeLeon was also hit for a run when young right fielder Hisayoshi Chono hit Yomiuri's first home run of the preseason, pulling the kyojin to just one run at 3-2. Yomiuri would add another in the 9th on an RBI double off the bat of Yoshiyuki Kamei, but it was far too little, too late.

SoftBank continues their preseason against Yomiuri tomorrow, once again at Yahoo! Dome.