TOKYO (Interstat) — In a high-scoring affair that defied both projections and a recent pitchers’ duel, the Tokyo Yakult Swallows erupted for a five-run third inning and never looked back, defeating the Chunichi Dragons 11-6 on Saturday afternoon and evening at Meiji Jingu Stadium.

A crowd of 28,933 watched as the Swallows (6-1) avenged their 1-0 loss to the Dragons from the previous night, showcasing their offensive firepower to hand Chunichi (2-6) its sixth loss in eight games this season. The game lasted 3 hours, 58 minutes.

The most critical sequence of the contest unfolded in the bottom of the third inning, turning a narrow 1-0 Chunichi lead into a decisive Yakult advantage. The Dragons had scratched across a first-inning run on a sacrifice fly by Seiya Hosokawa, but Yakult’s lineup responded with force in the third.

It began abruptly when Domingo Santana led off the frame with a solo home run to left field, tying the game. Kyo Suzuki and Jose Osuna followed with singles, and Yukihiro Iwata drove in Suzuki with a single to first base, giving Yakult a 2-1 lead. With two runners still on, cleanup hitter Shu Masuda stepped in and delivered the crushing blow: a three-run homer to center field off Chunichi starter Yorinosuke Sakurai. The blast extended the lead to 5-1 and chased Sakurai from the game.

Sakurai, who was saddled with the loss and is now 0-1, was charged with five runs on six hits over two-plus innings. The Swallows sent nine men to the plate in the inning, capitalizing on the sudden offensive outburst.

Yakult starter Taichi Yamano earned the win to improve to 2-0, working six innings and allowing four runs on six hits. He struck out seven but also surrendered a two-run homer to Hosokawa in the fifth inning that briefly brought Chunichi within 6-3.

The Dragons’ left fielder, Hosokawa, was named the top star for Chunichi. He finished 2 for 4 with a double, a home run, and three RBIs, continuing a solid stretch at the plate. Hosokawa has now hit safely in three of his last four games.

Yakult, however, consistently answered every Chunichi rally. After Hosokawa’s homer, the Swallows tacked on two more in the bottom of the fifth on RBI singles from Yamano and Haruto Tanaka, making it 8-3. Chunichi pulled closer again in the seventh on a two-run double by Hiroki Fukunaga, cutting the deficit to 8-5.

The Swallows immediately extinguished that hope in the bottom of the sixth. With two outs, Ryusei Takeoka doubled in a run, and Tanaka followed with a two-run single to right, pushing the lead to 11-5 and effectively sealing the outcome. Tanaka finished 3 for 4 with three RBIs, while Masuda’s three-run homer was his only hit but the game’s biggest swing.

Chunichi added a final run in the seventh, but Yakult’s bullpen combination of Kota Shoji and Jesus Liranzo closed the door over the final two innings. The Dragons stranded multiple runners, including leaving the bases loaded in the eighth inning when Shuhei Takahashi grounded into an inning-ending double play.

The result was a stark contrast to the series opener and confounded several pregame metrics. Interstat’s game simulator had projected a 7-2 Yakult victory, but the teams combined for 17 runs, easily surpassing the over/under line of 7.0. Despite Yakult being given a 58% probability to win by the ELO system, betting markets had installed Chunichi as a 1.5-run favorite.

For the Dragons, the loss continued a frustrating early-season trend. Four of their six defeats have been by two runs or fewer, but Saturday’s game saw their pitching staff allow 14 hits. Reliever Akira Neo provided a bright spot with two scoreless innings of one-hit ball, and Kenshin Makino added a perfect inning of relief.

The Swallows, meanwhile, reinforced their status as the Central League’s early front-runner, improving to 6-1. Their offense produced 14 hits from eight different players.

The two teams conclude their three-game series on Sunday at Meiji Jingu Stadium. Chunichi will look to salvage the series finale before embarking on a road trip to Yokohama. Yakult will aim for a series win before heading to Osaka for a three-game set against the Hanshin Tigers.