Asashio and Oshio then exchanged gunfire with Pope and John D. Ford, forcing the two American destroyers to retire to the southeast instead of following the cruisers to the northeast.
Asashio dan Ooshio kemudian terlibat baku tembak dengan Pope dan John D. Ford, memaksa kedua kapal perusak milik AS itu mundur ke tenggara daripada mengikuti kapal penjelajah itu ke timur laut.