YOKOHAMA (Interstat) — Yokohama BayStars used a pair of three-run rallies and a strong bullpen effort to beat the Chunichi Dragons 7-3 on Tuesday night, September 22, 2026, at Yokohama Stadium. The game, played before an announced attendance of 33,443, took 3 hours, 26 minutes. The BayStars improved to 67-66-3. The Dragons fell to 59-77-2. Katsuki Azuma earned the win, improving to 12-5. Kyle Muller took the loss, falling to 7-8.

The Dragons had a chance to strike first. Hiroki Fukunaga doubled to left-center to lead off the game, and after Kaito Muramatsu grounded out, Seiya Hosokawa and Miguel Sano drew walks to load the bases. Takaya Ishikawa grounded out to third and Asahi Hanada flew out to left, however, and Chunichi left the bases loaded. The missed opportunity loomed larger when Yokohama answered in the bottom half.

Yokohama opened the scoring in the first inning. Ryuki Watarai reached on an error to start the bottom half, and Shugo Maki followed with a two-run home run to left. Jerar Encarnacion walked and Toshiro Miyazaki singled before Takeru Furuichi singled to shallow center to drive in another run. The three-run first gave the BayStars an early cushion and set the tone for a night in which they answered whenever Chunichi threatened.

Chunichi cut into the lead in the second. Takuma Katoh singled with two outs, and Fukunaga hit a two-run home run to left. The blast made it a one-run game and gave the Dragons momentum after a quiet first inning. Fukunaga finished with three hits in five at-bats, including the home run, and drove in two runs. Kaito Muramatsu followed with a single and Seiya Hosokawa walked, but Miguel Sano struck out swinging to end the threat.

Yokohama restored a two-run advantage in the third. Maki singled to shallow left with no outs, and after Keita Sano flew out, Encarnacion doubled to right-center to score Maki. Miyazaki walked, but Tatsuo Ebina struck out swinging and Furuichi flew out to center, leaving two runners on. Encarnacion’s double was part of a 2-for-3 night with one RBI, and it helped keep the BayStars in front.

Chunichi put together another threat in the third. Ishikawa singled to shallow center with no outs, and after Hanada grounded out to shortstop, Yuki Okabayashi singled to shallow left. Muller flew out to right and Katoh grounded out to shortstop, ending the inning with runners on first and third. The Dragons stranded another runner in scoring position and remained behind.

The BayStars broke the game open in the fourth. Syuto Naruse doubled to center to begin the inning. Azuma’s sacrifice bunt attempt led to a fielder’s choice, and Watarai’s groundout to second brought home a run. Maki struck out swinging, but Sano doubled to left-center with two runners on, scoring two more. Sano’s double gave him two RBIs on a 1-for-5 night. The three-run inning pushed Yokohama’s lead to 7-2 and put the game out of reach.

Chunichi scored its final run in the fifth. Sano walked, and Ishikawa doubled to left-center to put runners on second and third. Hanada followed with a sacrifice fly to left, scoring Sano. Okabayashi flew out to right, and Yuma Fukumoto flew out to second, ending the inning. The Dragons managed nine hits and drew four walks against Azuma, but they could not produce another big hit after Fukunaga’s home run. Yokohama also finished with nine hits.

Yokohama added pressure in the fifth when Furuichi doubled on the right line, but Naruse grounded out to second, Yoshitomo Tsutsugoh grounded out to second, and Watarai struck out swinging. In the sixth, Maki walked, Sano grounded into a double play, and Encarnacion doubled on the right line before Takuma Hayashi flew out to center. The BayStars left that runner on, but their lead remained comfortable.

Azuma worked five innings for the win, allowing three earned runs on seven hits. He walked four and struck out one. The right-hander improved to 12-5 despite not having his sharpest command. Naoki Wakamatsu followed with a scoreless inning, allowing two hits and striking out two. Teruki Yoshino pitched a scoreless ninth, allowing no hits and striking out one. Yokohama’s bullpen kept Chunichi off the scoreboard over the final four innings.

Muller took the loss for Chunichi. The Dragons also received two scoreless innings from Sho Kusaka, who allowed two hits with one walk and one strikeout. Yuki Hashimoto pitched a scoreless inning with one walk, and Haruki Miyauchi worked a scoreless inning with one hit and one strikeout. Despite the solid relief work, Chunichi could not overcome the early and middle-inning damage done by Yokohama’s lineup.

Maki finished 2 for 4 with a home run and two RBIs. Furuichi’s RBI single in the first was part of a balanced attack, while Encarnacion went 2 for 3 with an RBI. Sano drove in two runs and delivered the decisive double in the fourth. For Chunichi, Fukunaga’s three-hit game and two RBIs were the most productive offensive output. Kusaka’s two innings of relief also helped keep the Dragons within striking distance, but the BayStars’ three-run fourth proved to be the difference.

The most important stretch came in the fourth. With Yokohama leading 4-2, Naruse’s leadoff double and Watarai’s run-scoring groundout gave the BayStars breathing room. Sano then doubled to left-center with two runners on, bringing home two more and turning a close game into a five-run margin. Chunichi never seriously threatened after that inning, as Wakamatsu and Yoshino closed the door. The victory gave Yokohama a chance to build momentum in the final weeks of the season, while Chunichi remained unable to string together enough offense against a team that had beaten it in recent meetings.

Yokohama had won four of the previous five head-to-head meetings before Tuesday, and the BayStars continued that trend at home. The Dragons had entered the series after a 10-0 victory over Hiroshima on Monday, but their bats cooled after the second inning. Chunichi’s next game is scheduled for Wednesday at Yokohama, followed by a road series against Tokyo Yakult. Yokohama will also host Chunichi on Wednesday before welcoming Hanshin for a weekend series.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Chunichi Dragons 0, Yokohama BayStars 2. Interstat’s ELO system gave Yokohama a 58.8 percent probability to win. Yokohama was installed as a pregame favorite with a spread of -1.5. The total score of 10 went under the over/under line of 6.5.