KITAHIROSHIMA, Hokkaido ¨C Es Con Field Hokkaido is the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters¡¯ new ballpark, but the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles¡¯ Maikel Franco made himself right at home on the first night of the season.
Franco had a two-run homer and three hits in his NPB debut to help the Eagles spoil the Fighters¡¯ first night at their new home with a 3-1 win on Thursday, the opening night of the NPB season.
Yukiya Ito gave the Eagles a 1-0 lead with a home run in the fifth, and starting pitcher Masahiro Tanaka pitched well enough to open his season with a victory.
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