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China Lotte's Watanabe pitches vs Orix

OSAKA, Japan - Chiba Lotte Marines pitcher Shunsuke Watanabe, known for his distinctive ''submarine'' pitching form, throws against the Orix Buffaloes at Kyocera Dome in Osaka on July 16.

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Japan ballparks in spotlight as matchmaking place

SAPPORO, Japan - Men and women watch a baseball match between the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters and the Chiba Lotte Marines in specially designated ''konkatsu'' seats at Sapporo Dome on July 11. They were among 300 men and women on a blind date organized by the Fighters club and 28 couples were formed by the end of the game.

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Shimizu picks season's third win

FUKUOKA, Japan - Chiba Lotte Marines starter Naoyuki Shimizu responds to the fans after throwing 6-1/3 effective innings to pick his third win of the season as his team held off the Softbank Hawks 4-2 at Yahoo Dome on July 1.

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Abe hits solo homer

TOKYO, Japan - Yomiuri Giants catcher Shinnosuke Abe hits a solo homer over the center-field wall in the sixth inning of an interleague game against the Chiba Marines at Tokyo Dome on June 19. The Giants beat the Marines 5-2.

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Pacific League opens this season

CHIBA, Japan - Softbank Hawks manager Sadaharu Oh (L) and Orix Buffaloes manager Terry Collins shake hands at Yahoo Dome in Fukuoka on March 24 before the start of their Pacific League season opener.

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MLB overpower Japan All-Star team to win series

TOKYO, Japan - Atlanta Braves outfielder Andruw Jones slams a two-run homer off Chiba Lotte Mariners starter H. Kobayashi in the sixth inning as the major leaguers routed the Japan All-Star team 11-4 to claim victory in a five-game exhibition series with their third win in a row at Tokyo Dome on Nov. 5. (MLB)

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Asia Series baseball game in Tokyo

TOKYO, Japan - Sun Dong Yol (L), manager of South Korea's Samsung Lions, and Bobby Valentine, manager of Japan's Chiba Lotte Marines, shake hands before their Asia Series 2005 baseball game at Tokyo Dome in Tokyo on Nov. 10.

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4 baseball managers hold new conference before Asian Series

TOKYO, Japan - China's China Stars Manager James Lefebvre (L), Taiwan's Sinon Bulls Manager Liu Jung-hua (2nd from L), South Korea's Samsung Lions Manager Sun Dong Yol (2nd from R) and Japan's Chiba Lotte Marines Manager Bobby Valentine join hands during a news conference in Tokyo on Nov. 8. The four baseball clubs will compete in the Asia Series 2005 at Tokyo Dome between Nov. 10 and 13.

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(4)Pacific league baseball tourney opens

TOKOROZAWA, Japan - Chiba Lotte Marines players celebrate their 5-3 victory over the Seibu Lions in a Pacific League season opening game at Seibu Dome in Tokorozawa, Saitama Prefecture, on March 27.

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(3)Pacific league baseball tourney opens

TOKOROZAWA, Japan - Baseball fans await the start of a Pacific League season opening game between Chiba Lotte Marines and the Seibu Lions at Seibu Dome in Tokorozawa, Saitama Prefecture, on March 27.

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(5)Japanese preseason baseball games

TOKOROZAWA, Japan - Seibu Lions ace pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka struck out seven, including Lee Seung Yeop twice, in five innings of work in a preseason game against the Chiba Lotte Marines at Seibu Dome on March 14.

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(4)Japanese preseason baseball games

TOKOROZAWA, Japan - Lee Seung Yeop of the Chiba Lotte Marines is struck out twice by Seibu Lions ace hurler Daisuke Matsuzaka at Seibu Dome on March 14.

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May hits game-deciding single

TOKYO, Japan - Chiba Lotte Marines outfielder Derrick May hits a game-deciding single to center off Nippon Ham Fighters reliever Hiroshi Shibakusa with bases loaded with one out in the top of the eight inning at Tokyo Dome on May 21. Lotte edged Nippon Ham 6-5.

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Minchey notches season's first win

TOKYO, Japan - Chiba Lotte Marines starter Nathan Minchey pitches eight scoreless innings against the Nippon Ham Fighters to pick his first victory of the season at Tokyo Dome on April 19.

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May slams three-run homer

TOKYO, Japan - Chiba Lotte Marines outfielder Derrick May watches the ball after slamming a three-run homer off Nippon Ham Fighters starter Tsuyoshi Shimoyanagi with two outs in the top of the third inning at Tokyo Dome on April 19. Lotte beat Nippon Ham 3-0.

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Rhodes slams two home runs

CHIBA, Japan - Kintetsu Buffaloes slugger Tuffy Rhodes (L) gets congratulations from manager Masataka Nashida (C) after hitting a home run, his second of the game, against the Lotte Marines at Chiba Dome on April 7. Kintetsu beat Lotte 7-3.

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Yabuta knocked out

FUKUOKA, Japan - Chiba Lotte Marines starter Yasuhiro Yabuta leaves the mound after yielding four runs in two innings against the Fukuoka Daiei Hawks at Fukuoka Dome on April 2.

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Kokubo hits two-run homer

FUKUOKA, Japan - Fukuoka Daiei Hawks infielder Hiroki Kokubo watches the ball after hitting a two-run homer off Chiba Lotte Marines starter Yasuhiro Yabuta in the bottom of first inning at Fukuoka Dome on April 2.

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Hoshino shuts out Lotte

FUKUOKA, Japan - Fukuoka Daiei Hawks starter Junji Hoshino scatters six hits over the distance to shut out the Chiba Lotte Marines at Fukuoka Dome on April 2.

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Valdez hits two homers

FUKUOKA, Japan - Fukuoka Daiei Hawks outfielder Pedro Valdez is greeted by teammate Hiroki Kokubo after hitting a home run, his second of the day, in the bottom of the six against the Chiba Lotte Marines at Fukuoka Dome on April 2.

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Mitsui pitches 1-hitter to give Seibu a 2-0 start to season

SAPPORO, Japan - Seibu Lions' second-year southpaw Koji Mitsui (L) and catcher Tsutomu Ito celebrate their 8-0 victory over the Chiba Lotte Marines at Sapporo Dome on March 31. Mitsui did not allow a runner past second base to pick up his first shutout win since turning pro in 2000.

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Lions' Matsuzaka pitches entire game against Marines

SAPPORO, Japan - Seibu Lions' Daisuke Matsuzaka throws a pitch in an opener against the Chiba Lotte Marines at Sapporo Dome on March 30. Matsuzaka pitched for the entire game and the Lions won 3-2.

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Japanese pro baseball starts 2002 season

SAPPORO, Japan - Salt Lake City Olympics freestyle mogul skiing silver medalist Tae Satoya (L) receives a ball from Seibu Lions ace pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka before throwing the first pitch in a game between the Lions and the Chiba Lotte Marines at Sapporo Dome on March 30, the opening day of Japanese pro baseball's 2002 season.

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Cabrera nails 'sayonara' homer

TOKOROZAWA, Japan - Seibu Lions slugger Alex Cabrera slams a game-ending upset three-run homer with two bases loaded with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning against the Chiba Lotte Marines at Seibu Dome on Sept. 23. Seibu beat Lotte 7-5.

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Rhodes blasts 54th homer

OSAKA, Japan - Osaka Kintetsu Buffaloes slugger Tuffy Rhodes watches the ball after blasting a solo homer off Chiba Lotte Marines starter Atsushi Yoshida with two outs in the bottom of the first inning at Osaka Dome on Sept. 12. It was Rhodes' 54th home run of the season, one shy of Japan pro baseball's annual record of 55 held by Sadaharu Oh, now manager of the Fukuoka Daiei Hawks.

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Valdez hits double

FUKUOKA, Japan - Fukuoka Daiei Hawks outfielder Pedro Valdez hits a game-leading double over left with no out in the bottom of the third inning against the Chiba Lotte Marines at Fukuoka Dome on Aug. 8.

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Kokubo hits game-tying two-run homer

FUKUOKA, Japan - Fukuoka Daiei Hawks slugger Hiroki Kokubo shouts after blasting a game-tying two-run homer in the bottom of the sixth inning against the Chiba Lotte Marines at Fukuoka Dome on Aug. 7.

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Rhodes blast 37th homer

OSAKA, Japan - Osaka Kintetsu Buffaloes slugger Tuffy Rhodes watches the ball after hitting a two-run homer, his 37th of the season, over center with one out in the bottom of the first inning against the Chiba Lotte Marines at Osaka Dome on August 1.

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Buffaloes Nakamura hits his 31 homer

OSAKA, Japan - Osaka Kintetsu Buffaloes slugger Norihiro Nakamura throws the bat at Osaka Dome on July 31 after hitting a solo homer, his 31st of this season, over the left-field wall off Chiba Lotte Marines starter Kosuke Kato in the third inning.

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Marines May hits two-run homer against Buffaloes

OSAKA, Japan - Chiba Lotte Marines outfielder Derrick May reacts to his two-run homer over the right-field wall off Osaka Kintetsu Buffaloes starter Hiroki Yamamura in the third inning at Osaka Dome on July 30.

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Jojima hits grand slam

FUKUOKA, Japan - Fukuoka Daiei Hawks catcher Kenji Jojima hits a grand slam with two outs in the bottom of the first inning against the Chiba Lotte Marines at Fukuoka Dome on June 29.

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Fighters' Obando hits three-run homer

TOKYO, Japan - Nippon Ham Fighters outfielder Sherman Obando hits a go-ahead three-run homer over the left-center field wall off Chiba Lotte Marines starter Hisanori Yokota in the bottom of the first inning at Tokyo Dome on June 13.

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Sanders picks first win

TOKYO, Japan - Nippon Ham Fighters starter Scott Sanders goes the distance to pick his first win since joining Japan's pro baseball as the Fighters edged the Chiba Lotte Marines 2-1 at Tokyo Dome on June 12.

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Bolick slams two-run homer

TOKYO, Japan - Chiba Lotte Marines' Frank Bolick hits a two-run homer with second base loaded with two outs in the top of the seventh inning against the Nippon Ham Fighters at Tokyo Dome on May 27. Lotte defeated Nippon Ham 5-2.

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Lions Cabrera hits 17th homer

TOKOROZAWA, Japan - Seibu Lions infielder Alex Cabrera raises his hands after hitting a solo homer, his 17th of this season, over the center-field wall in the eighth inning against the Chiba Lotte Marines at Seibu Dome in Tokorozawa, Saitama Prefecture, on April 30. The Lions beat the Marines 8-3.

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Kuroki limits MLB All-Stars to three hits in five innings

FUKUOKA, Japan - Chiba Lotte Marines pitcher Tomohiro Kuroki responds to fans after limiting the Major League All-Stars to three hits and striking out eight in five innings in game four of the eight-game exhibition series at Fukuoka Dome on Nov. 7.

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Lions' Matsuzaka pitches entire game against Marines

SAPPORO, Japan - Seibu Lions' Daisuke Matsuzaka throws a pitch in an opener against the Chiba Lotte Marines at Sapporo Dome on March 30. Matsuzaka pitched for the entire game and the Lions won 3-2.

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Hoshino shuts out Lotte

FUKUOKA, Japan - Fukuoka Daiei Hawks starter Junji Hoshino scatters six hits over the distance to shut out the Chiba Lotte Marines at Fukuoka Dome on April 2.

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Valdez hits two homers

FUKUOKA, Japan - Fukuoka Daiei Hawks outfielder Pedro Valdez is greeted by teammate Hiroki Kokubo after hitting a home run, his second of the day, in the bottom of the six against the Chiba Lotte Marines at Fukuoka Dome on April 2.

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Kokubo hits two-run homer

FUKUOKA, Japan - Fukuoka Daiei Hawks infielder Hiroki Kokubo watches the ball after hitting a two-run homer off Chiba Lotte Marines starter Yasuhiro Yabuta in the bottom of first inning at Fukuoka Dome on April 2.

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Rhodes slams two home runs

CHIBA, Japan - Kintetsu Buffaloes slugger Tuffy Rhodes (L) gets congratulations from manager Masataka Nashida (C) after hitting a home run, his second of the game, against the Lotte Marines at Chiba Dome on April 7. Kintetsu beat Lotte 7-3.

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4 baseball managers hold new conference before Asian Series

TOKYO, Japan - China's China Stars Manager James Lefebvre (L), Taiwan's Sinon Bulls Manager Liu Jung-hua (2nd from L), South Korea's Samsung Lions Manager Sun Dong Yol (2nd from R) and Japan's Chiba Lotte Marines Manager Bobby Valentine join hands during a news conference in Tokyo on Nov. 8. The four baseball clubs will compete in the Asia Series 2005 at Tokyo Dome between Nov. 10 and 13. (Kyodo)

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Asia Series baseball game in Tokyo

TOKYO, Japan - Sun Dong Yol (L), manager of South Korea's Samsung Lions, and Bobby Valentine, manager of Japan's Chiba Lotte Marines, shake hands before their Asia Series 2005 baseball game at Tokyo Dome in Tokyo on Nov. 10. (Kyodo)

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Asia Series baseball game in Tokyo

TOKYO, Japan - Sun Dong Yol (L), manager of South Korea's Samsung Lions, and Bobby Valentine, manager of Japan's Chiba Lotte Marines, shake hands before their Asia Series 2005 baseball game at Tokyo Dome in Tokyo on Nov. 10. (Kyodo)

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Pacific League opens this season

CHIBA, Japan - Softbank Hawks manager Sadaharu Oh (L) and Orix Buffaloes manager Terry Collins shake hands at Yahoo Dome in Fukuoka on March 24 before the start of their Pacific League season opener. (Kyodo)

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Abe hits solo homer

TOKYO, Japan - Yomiuri Giants catcher Shinnosuke Abe hits a solo homer over the center-field wall in the sixth inning of an interleague game against the Chiba Marines at Tokyo Dome on June 19. The Giants beat the Marines 5-2. (Kyodo)

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Shimizu picks season's third win

FUKUOKA, Japan - Chiba Lotte Marines starter Naoyuki Shimizu responds to the fans after throwing 6-1/3 effective innings to pick his third win of the season as his team held off the Softbank Hawks 4-2 at Yahoo Dome on July 1. (Kyodo)

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May hits game-deciding single

TOKYO, Japan - Chiba Lotte Marines outfielder Derrick May hits a game-deciding single to center off Nippon Ham Fighters reliever Hiroshi Shibakusa with bases loaded with one out in the top of the eight inning at Tokyo Dome on May 21. Lotte edged Nippon Ham 6-5.

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Mitsui pitches 1-hitter to give Seibu a 2-0 start to season

SAPPORO, Japan - Seibu Lions' second-year southpaw Koji Mitsui (L) and catcher Tsutomu Ito celebrate their 8-0 victory over the Chiba Lotte Marines at Sapporo Dome on March 31. Mitsui did not allow a runner past second base to pick up his first shutout win since turning pro in 2000.

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Yabuta knocked out

FUKUOKA, Japan - Chiba Lotte Marines starter Yasuhiro Yabuta leaves the mound after yielding four runs in two innings against the Fukuoka Daiei Hawks at Fukuoka Dome on April 2.