Kodai Senga outdueled Yusei Kikuchi, pitching the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks to a 3-2 series-opening win over the Seibu Lions on Friday.
The win at Yafuoku Dome moved the second-place Hawks to within seven games of the Pacific League leaders.
Senga (10-4) struck out 12 and scattered three hits and four walks, allowing two runs over 6-2/3 innings. Three relievers held the Lions to one hit the rest of the way.