YOKOHAMA -- The Chunichi Dragons jumped on the Yokohama BayStars early on in their game Saturday afternoon at Yokohama Stadium. Although, much like the teams' previous meeting, they couldn't keep them down for long.

News photoChunichi Dragons outfielder Kosuke Fukudome is greeted by teammates after hitting his second home run of the game in the seventh inning against the Yokohama BayStars on Sunday at Yokohama Stadium. The BayStars won 7-4. KYODO PHOTO

The Dragons watched an early lead fall apart for the second straight day as the BayStars fought back for a 7-4 win.

Chunichi's Kosuke Fukudome had a big day, going 3-for-4 with two home runs and four RBIs, but it wasn't enough as scrappy Yokohama rallied to win.

BayStars third baseman Shuichi Murata was his team's hero, going 2-for-3 with three RBIs. Yokohama also got two RBIs apiece from Yuuki Yoshimura and Takahiro Saeki.

For the Dragons, Fukudome was the lone bright spot. The reigning Central League MVP accounted for all four Chunichi runs.

"The guy's phenomenal," Dragons first baseman Tyrone Woods said of Fukudome. "When he gets hot, he can carry a team. But it was a rough one out there today. We gotta get everyone hitting again."

After rallying from two runs down, the BayStars blew the game open in a three-run sixth.

Pinch hitter Hitoshi Taneda led off with a walk before moving to second on a Toshihisa Nishi sacrifice bunt. Takanori Suzuki followed Takuro Ishii's flyout with a walk, putting runners at first and second. Murata followed with an RBI double to give the BayStars a 5-3 lead. Later in the inning, Saeki hit a two-run single to make it 7-3.

Yokohama starter Takeo Kawamura lasted four innings, giving up three runs on eight hits. Reliever Shigeki Ushida picked up the win for Yokohama. Closer Joselo Diaz worked a perfect ninth for his second save.

With the win, the BayStars moved into second place in the Central League standings. Yokohama leapfrogged the Dragons, who now sit third behind the BayStars and the first-place Yomiuri Giants.

Fukudome gave Chunichi a 2-0 advantage in the third with a booming shot to right field. The two-run homer was his eighth of the season.

Yoshimura grounded into a fielder's choice in the fifth, which scored a run to put the BayStars up 4-3.

Fukudome added another homer in the sixth.

Carp tame Tigers

HIROSHIMA (Kyodo) Jun Hirose hit a grand slam in a five-run first inning as the Hiroshima Carp held on to beat the Hanshin Tigers 5-1 for their third straight win on Sunday.

Swallows 6, Giants 2

At Jingu Stadium, Alex Ramirez hit a go-ahead two-run homer in the sixth, leading Tokyo Yakult to a win over Yomiuri.

PACIFIC LEAGUE

Fighters 7, Eagles 1

At Fullcast Stadium, Fernando Seguignol and Yukio Tanaka each hit two-run homers to back a strong outing from lefty Tomoya Yagi as Hokkaido Nippon Ham beat Tohoku Rakuten.

Marines 9, Lions 4

At Goodwill Dome, Julio Zuleta hit a three-run homer and Benny Agbayani delivered a two-run blast as Chiba Lotte came from behind in a six-run fifth inning to defeat Seibu.

Hawks 6, Buffaloes 5

At Skymark Stadium, Hiroki Kokubo hit a tiebreaking homer off Yoshihisa Hirano (1-3) leading off the sixth inning and the Fukuoka Softbank bullpen held Orix scoreless in the final four innings, leading the team to its seventh win in a row to move into first place.