Looking to win back-to-back starts for the first time in nearly four years, Daisuke Matsuzaka was denied the chance when the Orix Buffaloes pounded the Chunichi Dragons' bullpen in a 5-1 interleague win on Wednesday.
Lacking the location and command he had a week ago, when he earned his first NPB win in 12 years, Matsuzaka struggled and survived for six innings of one-hit ball. The 37-year-old walked four but struck out nine, leaning heavily on his cutter and occasionally sniping away with a fastball that maxed out at 143 kph.
Orix ace Chihiro Kaneko (2-4) surrendered a first-inning run at Nagoya Dome when Yohei Oshima tripled with one out and scored on Zoilo Almonte's sacrifice fly.