BayStars Crush Giants 13-2 to Complete Sweep and Shake Up Central League Race

The Yokohama DeNA BayStars overwhelmed the Yomiuri Giants 13-2 on Tuesday night, completing a three-game sweep at Yokohama Stadium and tightening an already crowded Central League race. DeNA scored 10 runs in the first three innings, collected 17 hits and handed the second-place Giants a costly defeat as the season enters its final stretch.

Yomiuri began the night only a half-game behind the Hanshin Tigers, but DeNA quickly turned the matchup into a rout. The BayStars answered a first-inning Giants run with four of their own, added five in the second and another in the third.

BayStars hit four early home runs

Shugo Maki started DeNA’s response with his 26th home run of the season in the bottom of the first. Keita Sano then delivered the biggest blow of the second inning, a three-run homer that helped break the game open.

Yoshitomo Tsutsugo and Takumi Ebina also went deep in the second. By the end of the inning, DeNA had scored nine runs and forced Yomiuri starter Shosei Togo into an early exit.

Sano finished 3-for-4 with four RBIs, while rookie outfielder Ryuki Watarai went 3-for-6 with two RBIs. Ebina and shortstop Ryusei Hayashi also had three hits as the BayStars produced 17 hits without committing an error.

Katsuki Azuma wins his 11th

Left-hander Katsuki Azuma worked six innings for DeNA, allowing two runs on eight hits with seven strikeouts and one walk. The victory improved his record to 11-5.

Togo took the loss after allowing seven hits and five earned runs in two innings. Yomiuri’s defense compounded the damage with three errors.

The result completed a three-game DeNA sweep of the Giants at Yokohama Stadium. The BayStars won 5-0 on September 13 and 4-3 on September 14 before Tuesday’s 11-run victory.

Giants lose ground in Central League race

The sweep matters beyond one lopsided score. Yomiuri entered September 15 chasing Hanshin for first place, while DeNA was trying to close the gap from third.

After Tuesday’s games, Hanshin remained first at 69-57-1, with Yomiuri at 70-59-2 and just a half-game back. DeNA improved to 64-63-3, moving to 5.5 games behind the Tigers.

DeNA has now beaten Yomiuri in four straight meetings dating back to September 2. With the Central League still compressed at the top, the BayStars’ sweep has given the pennant race another late-season complication.