It started as a pitchers' duel. It ended as a hitters' showcase.

News photoMinnesota Twins catcher Joe Mauer hits a two-run homer off Japan starter Hiroyuki Kobayashi of the Chiba Lotte Marines in the fifth inning on Sunday during Game 3 of NPB-MLB All-Stars exhibition series at Tokyo Dome. The MLB All-Stars won 11-4. KYODO PHOTO

Joe Mauer, Andruw Jones, Ryan Howard and David Wright slugged homers in the MLB All-Stars 11-4 victory over their Japanese counterparts in the third game of the 2006 Nichibei Yakyu at Tokyo Dome.

Howard, who led the major leagues with 58 home runs in 2006, hammered his third homer of the series in the seventh inning, a towering three-run blast to right-center off Yomiuri Giants pitcher Yuya Kubo that traveled an estimated 140 meters. That made it 10-4.

As Howard rounded the bases, the fans roared with delight, recognizing the big fellow's extraordinary power-hitting prowess.

"I'm feeling really good playing in Japan," said Howard, who is batting .700 through three games. "Balls are really jumping off my bat. I'll keep up the good work."

In the eighth, Wright slugged a solo shot to account for the game's final run.

"Hitting is contagious," he said. "I am just glad to join the party."

The teams had five hits through five innings. They finished with 20, 12 for the MLB team.

With the MLB squad leading the series 3-0, the series shifts to Osaka on Tuesday followed by a game in Fukuoka a day later.

The MLB All-Stars shattered a 3-3 tie with a three-run sixth. Chase Utley reached on a single to left, living up to his first name's meaning by taking third on Phillies teammate Howard's one-out single to right and scored on a throwing error on the same play.

Seconds later, Andruw Jones smacked a two-run blast to left-center off Chiba Lotte Mariners right-hander Hirokyuki Kobayashi, the losing pitcher, as the MLB All-Stars took a 6-3 lead.

Leadoff hitter Norichika Aoki of the Tokyo Yakult Swallows hammered Erik Bedard's first pitch of the game, a low fastball over the heart of the plate, into the right-field stands, giving the Japanese All-Stars a 1-0 lead.

"It was a low fastball inside," Aoki said. "I had great contact, but I was concerned if it was going to go over the fence.

"Since NPB lost two games in a row, we have to win tonight. I'll concentrate on doing my job as a leadoff (hitter)."

After walking the next batter, Eishin Soyogi (Hiroshima Carp), Bedard settled down, retiring the next three batters.

Kobayashi looked sharp from the get-go. He pitched perfect 1-2-3 innings in the first four innings. His pitches darted low and rose in the strike zone with equal effectiveness.

Twelve up, twelve down for the MLB All-Stars. Yet plenty of time remained to make contact.

For Bedard, Aoki's homer was his lone mistake pitch through five innings, the only hit he allowed in that span.

Howard ended Kobayashi's perfect game/no-hit bid with a double off the center-field wall to lead off the home half of the fifth. Two batters later, Mauer clubbed Kobayashi's 1-0 offering over the fence in left-center and the MLB squad took a 2-1 lead.

"Kobayashi is pitching a real good game," Mauer said during a mid-game interview, "and it was tough for us to score.

"He left the ball over the heart of the plate, so I was able to drive the ball."

Lyle Overbay (Toronto Blue Jays) and Wright (New York Mets) had back-to-back hits to continue the rally. Overbay then scored on Chicago Cubs left fielder Jacque Jones' RBI single to make it 3-1.

In the sixth, the NPB All-Stars had runners at first and third and one out -- Soyogi legged out an infield single and dashed to third on a wild pitch, and Chiba Lotte Marines designated hitter Kazuya Fukura reached on a walk -- with slugger Michihiro Ogasawara of the Japan Series-winning Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters at the plate.

Ogasawara delivered a sacrifice fly to left, which sent Soyogi home and brought NPB within 3-2. Jacque Jones made the difficult catch, keeping his eye on the hard-hit liner.

"What a great catch!" Ogasawara exclaimed. "It was (an outside) fastball. I was behind in the count, so I focused on shortening my swing."

It worked.

And it ended Bedard's day at the office. He pitched 5 1/3 innings and allowed three runs on three hits, walked three and struck out four.

In came right-hander Clay Hensley of the San Diego Padres.

Satozaki and Shuichi Murata followed with consecutive hits, the latter of which scored Fukura to tie it at 3-3.

"It was a two-seamer inside. I was jammed but got lucky," Murata said of his base knock.

Hensley, who earned the win in two-thirds of an inning of work, quelled the rally by fanning Yuki Yoshimura (Yokohama BayStars) to end the NPB sixth. Mike Myers and Ray King each pitched 1 1/3 scoreless innings to close out the game.

Kenji Johjima entered the game as a pinch hitter with two outs in the sixth. He hit a pop-up and then grounded into a 6-4-3 double play in the eighth.