The Dragons, who’ve been in first place without one of their best players from last year, outfield Yuki Okabayashi, got him back Friday, when he’ll replace 41-year-old Hiroyuki Nakajima, who was hit on the wrist by a pitch Tuesday. DeNA announced the BayStars’ returning former captain, Yoshitomo Tsutsugo would mark his Japan return Saturday in the Eastern League, while 43-year-old Tsuyoshi Wada‘s pilgrim’s progress to his major league season debut took a weird turn.

In Friday’s games, Munetaka Murakami is starting to look like his younger 22-year-old self, we finally had our first scoreless game, and a manager explains why his team is in last place.

Friday’s games

Swallows 4, BayStars 3: At Jingu “Tokyo’s Sacrifice to Corporate Greed and Governmental Malfeasance” Stadium, Munetaka Murakami went 3-for-4 with a tie-breaking solo home run, his third after Jose Osuna tied it with his third homer in two days. Taichi Ishiyama, the Swallows’ closer between 2018 and 2020, saved his first game since 2021.

DeNA’s Shugo Maki doubled in Ryuki Watarai and Keita Sano in the top of the third off Cy Sneed, and Yakult’s Yasutaka Shiomi singled in Hideki Nagaoka against Katsuki Azuma to make it 2-1 in the home half. DeNA’s Daiki Sekine walked and scored on Toshiro Miyazaki‘s sac fly in the fourth. Shiomi’s sac fly in the home half made it 3-2.

Sneed and Azuma each allowed three runs, with Sneed going five innings and Azuma working six.

The loss dropped the BayStars into sixth place behind Yakult.

“We’re there because they publish standings,” DeNA manager Daisuke Miura said.