Hiroki Kokubo homered three times and drove in five runs Wednesday to power the Yomiuri Giants to a 7-0 victory over the BayStars at Yokohama Stadium.
Daisuke Matsuzaka of the Lions releases a pitch against the Fighters to earn his 10th win of
the season Wednesday at Invoice Seibu Dome. The Lions won 8-1.
Kokubo delivered a three-run blast in the fourth inning, connected for a solo drive in the sixth and went deep again with a solo homer in the eighth -- the first time he has ever homered in three consecutive at-bats.
Scott Mullen (6-7) snapped a three-game personal losing streak and pitched his first shutout in his second year in Japan. He scattered seven hits with two walks and five strikeouts over the distance, helping Yomiuri end a three-game skid.