Futoshi Kobayashi combined with six relievers in a shutout Wednesday night as the Yokohama BayStars beat the Tokyo Yakult Swallows 4-0 for their first ever three-game sweep under new club owner DeNA.
Kobayashi (1-1) helped his own cause with an RBI single to open the scoring in the second inning and Masaaki Koike added a bases-loaded two-run double in a three-run sixth at Yokohama Stadium.
"I did the minimal job I could as a pitcher, but I was pitching with a good rhythm tonight," said Kobayashi.