Ayumu Ishikawa pitched out of early trouble, allowing the Chiba Lotte Marines to come from behind in a 5-2 win over the Seibu Lions on Tuesday.
The Marines snapped the Lions' season-opening, eight-game winning streak.
Ishikawa, coming off a nightmare 2017 season, improved to 2-0. The 29-year-old right-hander allowed a run and three hits in 6-2/3 innings. He walked four, while striking out eight.