Hard luck continued for the Orix Buffaloes despite a change in managers as they lost 2-1 to the Yomiuri Giants for their fourth straight defeat on Tuesday.
Giants captain Hayato Sakamoto's solo shot in the sixth inning, his fourth round-tripper of the season, off Orix starter Takahiro Matsuba (3-5) decided the game. Ryoji Aikawa's RBI triple in the third had opened the scoring for Yomiuri.
The Buffaloes pulled within one with Takahiro Okada's two-out home run in the ninth, but closer Hirokazu Sawamura held on to deny a first win for Orix interim skipper Junichi Fukura.