Catcher Kenya Wakatsuki doubled in the first run and scored another as the Pacific League-leading Orix Buffaloes held on to an early lead to beat the Nippon Ham Fighters 4-3 Saturday and snap a three-game losing streak.
With two on and no outs in the second at Es Con Field Hokkaido, Wakatsuki doubled off right-hander Hiromi Ito (5-6) to spark a three-run inning. With that lead trimmed to a run in the third, Wakatsuki drew a two-out walk to load the bases before Ito walked in a run to make it 4-2.
"I've been lucky this month, with the balls I've hit finding holes," Wakatsuki said.
The Fighters narrowed the gap in the fifth on Kotaro Kiyomiya's sixth home run, off Buffaloes starter Sachiya Yamasaki (8-2). But Orix's bullpen entered the game from the sixth and kept the Fighters from scoring again.
Veteran Orix closer Yoshihisa Hirano surrendered three straight one-out hits in the ninth. With a chance to win it, Kiyomiya offered at a low 3-2 pitch and grounded into a game-ending double play.
"We were in a losing streak, so that was a relief," Wakatsuki said.
In the Central League, the Yomiuri Giants beat the Chunichi Dragons 6-3.
