The Chunichi Dragons couldn't hold on to their own winning streak, but Masaaki Koike saved one for Yudai Kawai.
Koike hit a go-ahead, two-run homer in the sixth inning, and insurance runs from Masahiko Morino and Tony Blanco helped Kawai maintain his winning ways in a 5-3 victory over the Yomiuri Giants on Thursday at Tokyo Dome.
One day after the Dragons had their nine-game winning streak halted in an 11-1 thumping, Kawai threw seven effective innings, allowing three runs and striking out four, to preserve his personal streak of victories.