Japan Series-winning reliever Hiroyuki Kobayashi self-destructed to allow three runs in the eighth inning as the Hanshin Tigers went down 5-4 to the Yokohama BayStars on Saturday.
Kobayashi (0-1), who signed with the Tigers as a free agent in the offseason from the Japan Series champion Chiba Lotte Marines after failing to secure a move to the majors, took the mound in the bottom of the eighth at Yokohama Stadium with Hanshin up 4-2.
But Kobayashi walked Terrmell Sledge and Brett Harper before hitting Yuki Yoshimura to load the bases. A wild pitch to Yuta Naito scored Sledge to bring the BayStars within one.