09/28/2008 Komatsu helps Orix to close in on playoff berth

Right-hander Satoshi Komatsu threw a five-hitter with eight
strikeouts Sunday, helping the Orix Buffaloes cut their magic number
to clinch a playoff berth to one with a 7-2 rout of the Pacific
League champion Seibu Lions.

Tomotaka Sakaguchi had a bunt single to break a 1-1 tie with one
out and runners at the corners in the fifth inning and Alex Cabrera
added a two-run single to make it 4-1, and second-place Orix went on
to send the Lions to their sixth straight defeat.

Komatsu (15-3) won his ninth straight decision, pitching his
second straight complete game. Matt Kinney (2-4) was chased after
allowing four runs in 4-2/3 innings at Seibu Dome.

Orix put the game out of reach in the sixth when Hiroyuki Ose
hit an RBI double, followed by Sakaguchi's squeeze bunt and a Shinji
Shimoyama run-scoring double.

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Sports

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• japanese
• baseball
• 野球
• オリックス
• バファローズ
• 小松聖