Yoshinobu Yamamoto allows two runs over seven innings to earn his eighth win as the Pacific League-leading Orix Buffaloes beat the Seibu Lions 5-3 at MetLife Dome outside Tokyo on July 2, 2021. (Kyodo)

       TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Japan Olympic team member Yoshinobu Yamamoto allowed two runs over seven innings to pitch the Pacific League-leading Orix Buffaloes to a 5-3 win over the Seibu Lions on Friday.

       Yamamoto (8-5), who struck out seven, walked two and allowed five hits, pulled into a tie with rookie teammate Hiroya Miyagi for the league lead in wins. Orix's win increased their PL lead to two games over the idle Rakuten Eagles.

       The right-hander went to the mound at MetLife Dome in the bottom of the first with a two-run lead, after cleanup hitter Yutaro Sugimoto opened the scoring in the first with a two-run home run, his 18th. Sugimoto went 3-for-4 and drove in four runs.

       Yamamoto did not allow a hit until after the Buffaloes added two more runs in the third. Sosuke Genda doubled to open the Lions' third and scored on a sacrifice fly.

       "Getting an early lead to work with made my job a lot easier," Yamamoto said. "I have to reflect on how it was that I allowed them to get a run back after we scored. But overall I'm satisfied that I could turn the game over to our bullpen with a lead."

       Tyler Higgins worked a scoreless eighth, and former big leaguer Yoshihisa Hirano worked around a solo homer by Brandon Taiga Tysinger in the ninth to earn his 10th save.

       At Hiroshima's Mazda Stadium, Seiya Suzuki opened the Hiroshima Carp's seven-run second inning with a solo homer and capped it with a three-run double in a 7-1 win over the Hanshin Tigers, whose Central League lead shrank to 1-1/2 games over the idle Yomiuri Giants.

       At Vantelin Dome Nagoya, former major leaguer Norichika Aoki doubled twice, scored twice and drove in three runs to help pace the Yakult Swallows to a 9-3 win over the Chunichi Dragons.

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