CHIBA, Japan — Bobby Valentine's Chiba Lotte Marines broke out of a hitting slump with a Japanese professional baseball record of 15 runs in one inning.

Lotte sent 20 batters to the plate in the bottom of the sixth inning when the team had 12 hits, including 11 singles. The Marines defeated the Hiroshima Carp 23-2 today.

The previous record for the most runs in an inning was 14. Valentine, who led the New York Mets to the World Series in 2000, is in his seventh season with the Marines.
Hawai‘i's Benny Agbayani of the Marines entered the game in the seventh inning as a pinch-hitter, grounding into a fielder's choice to third base in his only at-bat. He is a Saint Louis and Hawai‘i Pacific alum who has played for the Marines since 2004.
Heading into the game, the Marines had the Pacific League's lowest batting average of .250 and the second-fewest runs scored (207).


This is likely Valentine's last season with the Marines. He was told his contract will not be renewed at the end of the season.
The modern major league record for runs in an inning is 17, set by the Boston Red Sox against Detroit in 1953.