Enrique Gonzalez News

Nishinomiya, Hyogo Pref. - Hanshin's Kentaro Sekimoto forced across the winning run in the bottom of the ninth inning after former Philadelphia Phillies farmhand Randy Williams hit him with a pitch with the bases loaded in the Tigers' 3-2 sayonara win over the Seibu Lions.

Yokohama - Hiroshima right-hander Kenta Maeda threw a no-hitter as the Carp beat the Yokohama BayStars 2-0 Friday to extend their winning streak to four games.

Nagisa Arakaki went the distance on one-run ball, Yuya Hasegawa broke open a close game with a three-run homer, and the Fukuoka Softbank Hawks beat the Orix Buffaloes 5-1 to complete a three-game sweep in the season-opening series on Sunday.

Hens first baseman Ryan Strieby is congratulated by manager Phil Nevin after crushing a home run in the eighth inning Monday.

Ramon Garcia did not factor in the decision and tossed a slightly below-average start: 5 IP, 8 H, 4 ER, 1 BB, 1 K. Weinhard and Purcey threw five scoreless innings and struck out 2 batters apiece.