Right-hander Bo Takahashi, who as a child in Brazil idolized former Seibu Lions ace Daisuke Matsuzaka, earned his first win for the Pacific League club Thursday going 5-2/3 innings in a 3-1 victory over the Orix Buffaloes.
Takahashi, who pitched as high as Triple-A for the Cincinnati Reds and in South Korea, joined the Lions in 2022. Making his second start of the season, Takahashi allowed a run on three hits, a walk and a hit batsman at Kyocera Dome Osaka.
"I'm really happy to get my first win," he said in Portuguese through an interpreter. "Now I want to go beyond this and win many more with this team."
"I'm satisfied with the way I pitched, and extremely pleased how we fielded and played as a team."
Slugger Takeya Nakamura put Seibu up by a run in the first with an RBI double, and new import Jesus Aguilar singled in two more in the third.
Four Lions relievers protected the lead, with new import Albert Abreu striking out two in a 1-2-3 ninth to record his sixth save.
Among other games on Thursday, Ryosuke Otsu (3-0) struck out seven over seven innings in the SoftBank Hawks' 6-0 victory over the Lotte Marines, while Hayato Sakamoto's three-run home run brought the Yomiuri Giants from behind in a 3-2 Central League victory over the Chunichi Dragons.
