Kodai Senga struck out eight over seven scoreless innings as the Pacific League's Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks beat the three-time defending Central League champion Hiroshima Carp 6-3 on Friday in a rematch of last year's Japan Series.
"It's been a while since I've pitched at Mazda Stadium, so my feel for everything was a little off. But (my catcher Takuya) Kai called a good game," said Senga (6-1), who allowed three hits and two walks for the Japan Series champs.
The visitors took the lead against rookie right-hander Hiroki Tokoda (5-3) in the fifth. With two outs and two on, career minor leaguer Yusuke Masago looped a tough pitch over the infield for an RBI single.