Who you calling a lightweight?

Ukyo Shuto muscled up for his first home run of the season to break open the SoftBank Hawks’ 8-4 win over the Nippon Ham Fighters with a three-run shot.

Shuto may by NPB’s lightest regular (200 PA minimum), listed at 66 kilograms, but he is not the slappieset of Japan’s ubiquitous slap hitters. His isolated power entering the game was .047, impressive but nothing near the current champ, Orix Buffaloes utility infielder Koji Oshiro (.014), who has 16 kgs on Shuto.

Wada apologetic in victory

Hawks starting pitcher Tsuyoshi Wada allowed three runs on a walk and two home runs over five innings. The 39-year-old lefty was the winning pitcher but still issued an apology.

“I didn’t pitch badly but I threw some fat pitches when I challenged batters in the strike zone,” said Wada, who earned his 135th win in Japan. “My teammates got me the lead but I had to leave the mound after only five innings, and I am sorry for that.”

Dragons manager calls out Matsuba

Chunichi Dragons manager Tsuyoshi Yoda had some sharp words for lefty Takahiro Matsuba after he surrendered two of Tyler Austin’s three home runs on Sunday.

Matsuba, who got off to a strong start this season, his second in the Central League since a trade last summer from the Orix Buffaloes, has surrendered 13 runs over his last 16 innings, during which he is 1-3. He’s walked only two batters over that stretch but allowed four home runs.

“Matsuba was careless with his control,” Yoda said. “He left pitches in bad places. He has excellent stuff, but he needs to prepare better how to get guys out.”