TOKYO -- Alex Cabrera homered and drove in three runs, and Koji Uehara pitched six strong innings, leading Japan's All-Stars to an 8-4 victory over the major league All-Stars Sunday in the first game of a seven-game exhibition series.

Barry Bonds struck out three times for the major league all-stars. The San Francisco Giants slugger, who had four home runs and nine RBI in 2000 when he was named the series MVP, last struck out three times in a game on Aug. 8, 2001.

Cabrera, a former Arizona Diamondbacks player who tied Japan's single-season homer record with 55 with the Seibu Lions, hit a solo homer in the top of the seventh off Randy Wolf of the Philadelphia Phillies to give the Japanese all-stars a 6-1 lead.

"I didn't hold anything back," Cabrera said. "Everybody is really excited about this series and I was happy to contribute."

Norihiro Nakamura of the Kintetsu Buffaloes and Yoshitomo Tani of the Orix BlueWave both hit RBI singles in the seventh to make it 8-1.

Uehara, who led the Central League with 17 wins for the Japan Series champion Yomiuri Giants, struck out eight and limited the major league all-stars to one run on five hits in six innings.

Torii Hunter of the Minnesota Twins hit a solo homer off Uehara in the bottom of the fifth. Eric Chavez of the Oakland Athletics and A.J. Pierzynski and Jacque Jones of the Minnesota Twins each drove in runs in the bottom of the ninth.

"I really wanted the win," Uehara said. "It felt great to strike out (Barry) Bonds and (Jason) Giambi. The only mistake I made was that slider to Hunter."

Makoto Imaoka of the Hanshin Tigers hit a solo homer off starter Brad Penny of the Florida Marlins as the Japanese all-stars charged to a 5-0 lead in the top of the third.

"It was a fastball right over the plate," Imaoka said. "I didn't think I got enough of it at first but it made it. Hopefully, this will give us some confidence."

Japan loaded the bases and scored a run on Kosuke Fukudome's bloop single to left. Hideki Matsui hit a two-run double to right field.

"They pitched me tough yesterday," Matsui said. "But I'm starting to feel a little more comfortable at the plate and am getting into the mood of this series."

Matsui, who is leaving the Yomiuri Giants to pursue a career in the majors, went 1-for-4 Saturday when the Japan Series champion Yomiuri Giants lost 8-1 to the major leaguers.

Penny gave up five runs on eight hits in 2 2/3 innings and got the loss.

Uehara held the major league all-stars to one hit through four innings, a single by Jason Giambi in the second.