Ayumu Ishikawa shut out the Pacific-League leading Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks on two hits and tagged them with their season-worst sixth straight defeat on Friday, while tying Hawks starter Tsuyoshi Wada for the league lead in wins.
Ishikawa (12-3) walked one and fanned six in his 107-pitch outing, and got the lead through Alfredo Despaigne's sixth-inning two-run homer. Wada (12-4) issued a leadoff walk and let the Cuban hammer a high, full-count fastball off the top of the hitter's background at QVC Marine Field.
"I gave my best," said Ishikawa. "My mechanics weren't good in the first inning but I had good form when runners were on. I was getting exhausted in the ninth and they all connected well."