Hayato Terahara allowed a run in seven innings and drove in two runs to lead the Pacific League's Fukuoka Softbank Hawks to a 5-2 interleague victory on Sunday and a series sweep of the Yomiuri Giants.
In the last of three games between defending league champions and current leaders, Terahara (3-0) allowed a single and a pinch-hit home run, while walking one and striking out four. With the Hawks leading 2-0 on Tomoki Takata's two-run home run in the fourth, Terahara's two-out bases-loaded single in the sixth off rookie Hayato Takagi (6-3) iced the game.
Takata had never homered at any level since turning pro, while Terahara hadn't had a hit in two seasons or driven in a run since 2010, when he played for the Central League's BayStars.