Fernando Romero of the DeNA BayStars pitches in a Central League game against the Chunichi Dragons on Oct. 22, 2021, at Yokohama Stadium. (Kyodo)

       YOKOHAMA (Kyodo) -- Fernando Romero allowed a run over seven innings as the Central League's last-place DeNA BayStars held on to a 4-2 win over the fifth-place Chunichi Dragons in Nippon Professional Baseball's lone game on Friday.

       The win at Yokohama Stadium moved the Baystars to within one game of the Dragons in their fight to stay out of the CL cellar.

       Fernando (5-3) allowed nine hits and a hit batsman while striking out three and walking none. After working a 1-2-3 first, Fernando went to the mound in the second with a 4-0 lead and never looked back.

       BayStars leadoff hitter Masayuki Kuwahara opened DeNA's first with a home run in the eight-batter rally.

       The Dragons, trailing 4-1 in the eighth, loaded the bases with one out, but reliever Hiromu Ise entered the game and ended the threat without a run scoring.

       "We've only got three games left, but we'd like to show our fans and everyone Yokohama's strength," Ise said.

       Friday's other scheduled game, between the CL-leading Yakult Swallows and the fourth-place Hiroshima Carp was rained out.

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