Shota Takeda allowed two runs in eight innings as the Pacific League-leading Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks beat the Seibu Lions 6-2 on Tuesday.
Takeda (11-4) gave up four hits, while striking out seven and walking one. Lefty Masahiko Morifuku and right-hander Robert Suarez worked the ninth to close it out.
"I have a positive image (against them)," Takeda said. "My teammates gave me some runs to work with and I could pitch with some margin for error."