Baseball: Maki, Sano spark BayStars to 14-1 battering of Swallows
The Japan Series champions recorded season highs in both runs and hits, with 21, as they snapped a four-game skid since the All-Star break against the Central League's bottom side.
Maki's 16th home run of the season, an ice-breaking big fly over left field off top rookie prospect Yuto Nakamura (1-2), was part of a four-run first inning for a BayStars lineup that had been struggling to score early in games.
"I'm glad I could convert the chance when it came my way," said the Samurai Japan slugger, who finished 3-for-4. "We've been giving up the early runs lately, so all I was thinking about was scoring first."
Sano made it 5-0 with his opposite field blast in the second and extended the margin to 11-0 when he led off the eighth with a long shot to right. Tatsuo Ebina followed with a two-run homer as part of his three-RBI outing.
Kentaro Taira (2-2) got the win after striking out seven and scattering four hits over six shutout innings.
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