Left-hander Kei Igawa made his first start back in Japan in six years, but the New York Yankee throwaway left early with an injury in the Orix Buffaloes' 1-0 defeat to the Fukuoka Softbank Hawks on Wednesday.
Softbank starter Kenji Otonari (3-2) threw 6⅔ scoreless innings before the game was handed over to the bullpen. He struck out eight and walked one. Brain Falkenborg fanned three in the ninth for his 13th save.
Igawa (0-1) yielded one run in 3⅔ innings while striking out three and walking one at Hotto Motto Field Kobe.