Troubled former Cy Young Award winner Trevor Bauer surrendered seven runs and the Hiroshima Carp held off the Yokohama DeNA BayStars 7-5 in the Central League on Tuesday.
Bauer (1-2) came to Japan under a cloud following a 194-game suspension for violating MLB's domestic violence, sexual abuse and child abuse policy. The Los Angeles Dodgers cut him loose despite owing him over $20 million for this season. DeNA snapped Bauer up when every MLB team passed on signing him.
Against the Carp, whom Bauer beat in his May 3 Japan debut, Bauer allowed eight hits and a walk and struck out one in two innings. He has given up 15 runs — 14 earned — over 15 innings for the BayStars.
"They really hit him well," BayStars manager Daisuke Miura said. "It's not only about how hard you throw."
Shogo Akiyama had four hits and drove in two runs. His first-inning RBI double brought home the game's first run. Ryan McBroom doubled him home and scored on Ryoma Nishikawa's two-run homer.
The BayStars trailed 7-0 in the second and battled back but fell short.
Hiroshima starter Hiroki Tokoda (4-0) allowed three runs over seven innings to earn the win.
Elsewhere, the Yomiuri Giants held off the Tokyo Yakult Swallows 9-8, while the league-leading Hanshin Tigers downed the Chunichi Dragons 9-4.
In the Pacific League, the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles hit three homers in a 3-0 win over the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks. The Seibu Lions beat the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters 4-2 in 12 innings, and the league's top two teams, the Orix Buffaloes and Chiba Lotte Marines, also went 12 in their 1-1 tie.