Ryosuke Hirata hit a pair of homers and drove in four runs Thursday, lifting the Chunichi Dragons past the Tokyo Yakult Swallows in a 5-3 victory.
Hirata had a pinch-hit three-run blast off Katsuki Akagawa (1-1) to turn a 3-1 deficit into a 4-3 lead with two outs in the sixth inning and went deep again in his next at-bat with a solo shot in the eighth inning at Jingu Stadium.
Enyelbert Soto (5-0) gave up three runs and seven hits in five innings for the win and Japan's all-time saves leader Hitoki Iwase retired three in the ninth for his 21st save of the year.