Hirokazu Sawamura earned his first major league win Friday, striking out three over 1-1/3 innings of scoreless relief as the Boston Red Sox edged the Seattle Mariners 6-5.
Japanese compatriot Yusei Kikuchi (0-1) took the loss for the Mariners after giving up five runs over 4-2/3 innings in the American League contest at Fenway Park.
Right-hander Sawamura replaced starter Martin Perez to face the top of the Seattle lineup with runners on first and second, two outs in the fourth and Boston holding a 3-2 lead.
After failing to locate the strike zone on his first delivery, he struck out Mitch Haniger on his next three pitches. He started the fifth with a four-pitch strikeout before a fielding error allowed the next batter, Kyle Seager to reach base.
Sawamura struck out Kyle Lewis swinging at a 143-kilometer-per-hour splitter before allowing his only hit, a single to Evan White. An out on the bases ended the inning.
Boston scored twice in the bottom of the inning against Kikuchi. The second run, scoring on a line drive single from Xander Bogaerts chased the Japanese lefty.
Kikuchi surrendered a monster two-run homer to Bogaerts in the first and a solo shot to J.D. Martinez in the third among the six hits he allowed. Kikuchi walked three and struck out one.
Boston reliever Matt Barnes surrendered a three-run Seager homer in the ninth before getting the final out and securing a maiden big league win for Sawamura (1-0).
The 33-year-old Sawamura, who joined Boston in a free-agent move from the Pacific League's Lotte Marines in the offseason, said he would allow himself a moment to enjoy the win before turning his attention to the next game on the schedule.
"I'm glad the team won. I'm happy (about my first win) and I might revel in it until around midnight, but after that, it's another day," Sawamura said.
Yu Darvish struck out nine over seven innings and earned his second win of the season as the San Diego Padres overpowered the Los Angeles Dodgers 6-1.
The 34-year-old right-hander allowed a run in the first inning of the battle between the National League West rivals at Dodger Stadium, but dominated his former team the rest of the way.
"My control wasn't great and my form deteriorated a little, but I was able to keep my concentration and stick it out," said Darvish, who walked three batters and hit two.
Fernando Tatis Jr. sparked the San Diego offense with a pair of home runs against Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw (3-2).
With the win, Darvish (2-1) was able to get some payback against the Dodgers and Kershaw, who beat him in a closely fought pitchers' duel last Saturday.
"It started out in similar fashion to last time, but I adjusted my line of attack," he said.
At Houston's Minute Maid Park, Shohei Ohtani went 2-for-5 with an RBI and a stolen base in the Los Angeles Angels' 5-4 loss to the Houston Astros.
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