Takeshi Yamasaki hit a go-ahead three-run homer in the fourth inning off Yu Darvish, leading the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles to a 4-2 win over the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters on Saturday.
The 41-year-old slugger's first home run since June 13 put Rakuten ahead 3-1 at Kleenex Stadium. Darvish (9-5) lost for the first time in six starts, giving up three runs — two earned — and four hits in seven innings.
"I didn't try to hit a home run. I just wanted to drive home a runner with a base hit," Yamasaki said. "(Kohei) Hasebe was doing his best on the mound, so I'm glad I helped him get the win. We're still below .500 in winning percentage. We want to make up the lost ground."
Norihiro Nakamura singled in an insurance run in the eighth.