Chunichi right-hander Kenshin Kawakami picked up his career-high 17th win after working three shutout innings in relief in the Dragons' 2-1 win Sunday over the Yokohama BayStars. Essentially, this was a warm-up game for the Dragons, who face the Pacific League pennant winners, the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters, in the Japan Series, which begins Saturday in Nagoya.
Masahiro Kawai of the Chunichi Dragons, who is retiring after this season, acknowledges fans after hitting a single in the first inning against the Yokohama BayStars on Sunday at Nagoya Dome. The Dragons won 2-1.
KYODO PHOTOKawakami (17-7) struck out five and only allowed an infield single to Yuki Yoshimura after Central League champion Chunichi went ahead 2-1 on third-inning RBI singles by Kosuke Fukudome and Masahiko Morino.
Masahiro Yamamoto, also in the Dragons' starting rotation, threw the last three innings and got his first save since 1997.