Kodai Senga allowed one hit over seven innings to pitch the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks to a 3-0 victory over the Chiba Lotte Marines on Saturday, ending a six-game losing streak.
Senga (9-1), who gave up five runs in his last start, used his breaking ball to get ahead in counts and teased hitters with high 150-kph fastballs they couldn't hit or lay off.
Through five innings, Senga was locked in a scoreless pitching duel with Marines rookie Ryota Sekiya before the visitors broke through in the sixth before 27,713 at QVC Marine Field.