The day after a bullpen implosion, the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks rode Shota Takeda's one-hitter to a 3-0 win over the Orix Buffaloes on Saturday.
The 25-year-old breaking-ball specialist combined fastball location with excellent command of his curveballs and sliders to stop the Buffaloes on 121 pitches at Yafuoku Dome. Takeda (1-2) gave up one double and issued two walks, while striking out six.
Yuki Yanagita opened the scoring in the fourth inning. Orix right-hander Taisuke Yamaoka (2-3) retired the first 10 batters he faced before Kenta Imamiya's one-out single. Yanagita tagged the next pitch for his eighth home run of the season.