Kotaro Kurebayashi and Leandro Cedeno drove in five eighth-inning runs for the Pacific League-leading Orix Buffaloes in a 7-5 win Sunday over the Nippon Ham Fighters, who dropped their 12th straight game for their team's longest losing streak in 39 years.
With the game tied 1-1 at Hotto Motto Field Kobe, Orix loaded the bases with one out against Fighters starter Cody Ponce (0-2). Kurebayashi singled in two to chase Ponce. Cedeno followed with his seventh home run in Japan and his fourth in four games.
"I was trying to put the ball in the air, and I got a hit and hit a homer," Cedeno said. "I don't try to hit homers, but God gives me those homers, and I will take them."
"I don't try to do too much, and I've been getting good results."
The Fighters took a first-inning lead on Kotaro Kiyomiya's fifth home run, only for Orix to tie it in the second on a solo homer from Keita Nakagawa.
After three perfect innings from the Orix bullpen, the Fighters loaded the bases with no outs in the ninth, and new Fighter Ariel Martinez unloaded them with his 12th home run, the grand slam making it a 7-5 game.
Hard-throwing Orix reliever Soichiro Yamazaki, however, went to the mound and retired all three batters he faced to earn his fourth save.
The two-time defending PL champions have won five straight.
