Hiroki Kokubo homered twice and rookie Akichika Yamada earned the win in his first career start Wednesday as the Daiei Hawks soared to a 7-4 victory over the Kintetsu Buffaloes at the Osaka Dome.
Tadahito Iguchi's RBI double keyed a three-run third inning before Kokubo hit solo homers in the seventh and eighth innings as the Pacific League pennant holder built a 7-0 lead en route to its third straight win after an Opening-Day loss.
Yamada, a first-round draft pick from Ritsumeikan University who played for Japan at last year's Sydney Olympics, pitched seven shutout innings before giving up a solo homer to Kenshi Kawaguchi and a three-run shot to Norihiro Nakamura in the eighth.