SENDAI, Japan (Interstat) — Allen Kuri pitched 6 2/3 scoreless innings, striking out seven and scattering six hits, as the Orix Buffaloes defeated the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles 2-0 on Tuesday evening at Kleenex Stadium Miyagi.

Kuri earned his third win against three losses. Andres Machado recorded his 12th save with a perfect ninth inning. Kosei Shoji took the loss despite nine strikeouts over six innings, allowing two earned runs on three hits.

Orix scored both runs in the fourth inning. With one out and a runner on first, Ryoma Nishikawa doubled to right-center to drive in the first run. Two outs later, Ryo Ohta singled to shallow right to plate another.

The Buffaloes managed four hits; the Golden Eagles had six. Attendance was 11,061 and the game lasted 3 hours, 10 minutes.

Orix improved to 23-14, while Rakuten fell to 15-21.