Reserve outfielder Masaaki Koike homered twice Friday as the Yokohama BayStars beat the Yakult Swallows 4-2 for their third straight victory and moved out of the Central League cellar.
Koike hit his first homer of the season with a solo shot in the first inning and added a two-run drive in the third to give Yokohama a three-run lead at Jingu Stadium.
Takeharu Kato (6-6) worked five innings in relief to get the win and Ken Kadokura picked up his 10th save.