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Posted at 3:37 p.m., Saturday, October 22, 2005

Agbayani homers in Japan Series opener

Associated Press

TOKYO — Hawai'i's Benny Agbayani hit a two-run home run to help the Chiba Lotte Marines to a 10-1 victory over the Hanshin Tigers today in the opener of the Japan Series that ended after seven innings because of fog.

Toshiaki Imae went 4 for 4 with a solo homer and two RBIs for Chiba.

Agbayani, who finished 3 for 4, hit his homer in the seventh, and the game was delayed 30 minutes by fog that rolled in off Tokyo Bay. The umpires then called the game, a first for a Japan Series contest.

It was a first for Chiba manager Bobby Valentine, a former New York Mets manager.

"I remember in the minors, once there was a sandstorm and the game got sanded out," Valentine said. "But never fog."

Imae homered in the first inning and doubled in a run in the fifth to give the Marines a 2-1 lead.

Game 2 of the best-of-seven series is tomorrow. The Marines are aiming for their first title since 1974.