YOKOHAMA, Japan (Interstat) — On a cool Friday evening that defied preseason projections, the Tokyo Yakult Swallows opened their 2026 campaign by holding off the Yokohama BayStars 3-2 in front of 33,813 fans at Yokohama Stadium.

The game, which lasted 3 hours and 18 minutes, saw the visiting Swallows leverage early power and a resilient bullpen to secure a narrow victory, spoiling the home opener for a Yokohama team that entered as a significant favorite. Interstat’s game simulator had projected a 5-4 BayStars win, giving Yokohama a 60.6 percent probability of victory, but the Swallows’ pitching staff rendered those forecasts moot.

Yokohama struck first in the bottom of the opening inning. Leadoff hitter Shugo Maki immediately energized the home crowd, driving the first pitch he saw from Yakult starter Kojiro Yoshimura deep to right-center field for a solo home run.

The early deficit was short-lived. Yakult answered decisively in the top of the second against Yokohama starter Katsuki Azuma. After a strikeout, Yukihiro Iwata reached on an infield single. Ryui Itoh then stepped in and launched a two-run homer to left field, swiftly putting the Swallows ahead 2-1.

Yakult added a critical insurance run in the fifth. Domingo Santana led off the inning by crushing a solo shot to right field, extending the lead to 3-1. That run proved vital as the BayStars mounted a response in the sixth. Maki, again causing problems, led off with a double. Keita Sano followed with a single to put runners on the corners with no outs. Toshiro Miyazaki then grounded out to second, allowing Maki to score and cutting the deficit to 3-2. However, Yoshimura limited the damage, stranding the tying run at second base to end the inning.

The most important sequence of the game unfolded in the late innings, as Yakult’s relievers repeatedly extinguished Yokohama threats. The Swallows’ bullpen inherited a one-run lead and preserved it under mounting pressure.

In the seventh, after a leadoff dead ball, reliever Naofumi Kizawa erased the baserunner with a caught stealing before notching a strikeout. The eighth inning presented the BayStars’ best chance to tie or take the lead. Shion Matsuo led off with a single, and after a flyout, Sano drew a walk to put two on with only one out. Lefty Hiroki Ohnishi was summoned from the Yakult bullpen and induced a crucial groundout from Miyazaki and a flyout from Dayan Viciedo to strand both runners.

Yakult closer Jose Quijada entered for the ninth to protect the 3-2 lead. He immediately walked Cooper Hummel, bringing the potential winning run to the plate. Tatsuo Ebina successfully sacrificed the runner to second, putting the tying run in scoring position with one out. Quijada then bore down, striking out pinch-hitter Ryuki Watarai looking and fanning Ryuhei Kuki swinging to end the game and secure the save.

Yoshimura earned the win for Yakult, allowing two runs on five hits over six innings of work. He struck out four and walked none. Azuma took the loss for Yokohama, surrendering three runs on seven hits in five innings. Quijada’s scoreless ninth gave him his first save of the season.

Offensively, the Swallows out-hit the BayStars nine to six. Maki was the standout for Yokohama, finishing a triple shy of the cycle, scoring both of his team’s runs, and driving in one.

With the victory, the Swallows begin their season 1-0, while the BayStars start 0-1. The two Central League rivals will continue their opening series at Yokohama Stadium on Saturday and Sunday.

Yakult will then host the Hiroshima Toyo Carp for a three-game set beginning Tuesday, March 31. Following their weekend series with Yakult, the BayStars will embark on a six-game road trip, starting with three games against the Hanshin Tigers on Tuesday, March 31.