Fukuoka Softbank lefty Yuya Iida won a rookie pitchers' duel with Tohoku Rakuten's top draft pick, Yuki Matsui, on Wednesday as the Pacific League-leading Hawks defeated the Eagles 3-0.

Iida (1-2), who was taken in the third round of the 2012 developmental draft, allowed three hits and two walks over six scoreless innings, while striking out four to earn his first career victory and the Hawks' sixth straight. The win at Nisshin Seiyaku Stadium kept the Hawks 1½ games ahead of the second-place Orix Buffaloes.

"I benefitted from our being on a roll after five straight wins," said the 23-year-old lefty who was starting his fifth time for the big club after going 8-0 with a 1.88 earned run average in the minors.