Katsuki Azuma allowed four hits and a run over eight innings, and his teammates gave him an early lead as the Yokohama BayStars defeated the Central League-leading Yomiuri Giants 5-1 on Friday to snap a three-game losing streak.
Azuma went to the mound at Tokyo Dome with a 3-0 lead thanks to two two-out walks by Giants starter Toshiki Sakurai and Neftali Soto's 31st home run.
After Azuma retired the Giants 1-2-3 in the first, BayStars veteran Takayuki Kajitani belted a two-run homer. Kajitani, once a key offensive star for Yokohama, was playing on the first team for the first time since May 4.