Carp ace Kenta Maeda earned his first win of the season on Thursday after throwing seven innings in a 1-0 victory over the Yomiuri Giants.

Before 26,796 at Mazda Stadium, the last-place Carp scored their only run against complete-game loser Tomoyuki Sugano (1-2) in the first inning. Tomohiro Abe led off the bottom of the first with a single and was on the move when Ryosuke Kikuchi reached on a slash bunt. Yoshihiro Maru grounded out to second to plate Abe.

Maeda (1-0) scattered six hits and four walks, while striking out two in a 117-pitch effort.

Hiroshima, which won for the second straight night, lost the series opener when starter Daichi Osera was tasked with holding a 1-0 lead in the ninth after throwing over 130 pitches.

This time, however, rookie Carp skipper Koichi Ogata turned the game over to his bullpen in the eighth. Shota Nakazaki and Deunte Heath each issued a walk but allowed no runs in one scoreless inning apiece. Heath recorded his third save.

Sugano, the hard-luck loser, allowed seven hits and two walks, while striking out five.

BayStars 2, Tigers 1

At Koshien Stadium, Kentaro Takasaki (1-0) threw seven scoreless innings, and Aarom Baldiris and Hyuma Matsui each drove in a run in the eighth inning as Yokohama beat Hanshin and took over the league lead.

Swallows 3, Dragons 2

At Tokyo’s Jingu Stadium, Nagisa Arakaki, acquired in a trade from Fukuoka Softbank last summer, allowed two runs in five innings to earn his first win in two seasons as Tokyo Yakult defeated Chunichi.

PACIFIC LEAGUE

Marines 4, Buffaloes 3

At Osaka’s Kyocera Dome, Kazuya Fukuura slugged two homers, his first in four seasons as Chiba Lotte came from behind to beat Orix, which got a big night from Francisco Caraballo.

Last year’s independent BC League Triple Crown winner singled, homered, walked, was hit by a pitch and drove in three runs for the Buffaloes.