Left-hander Daiki Enokida threw one-run ball over 7 2/3 impressive innings, Matt Murton hit a two-run homer and drove in five runs, and the Hanshin Tigers trounced the rival Yomiuri Giants 8-1 to avoid a three-game sweep on Thursday night.
Takashi Toritani got things rolling offensively with an RBI triple, followed by a Kosuke Fukudome run-scoring single for a 2-0 lead in the first at Tokyo Dome.
Giants starter Hirokazu Sawamura (1-2) was chased in just three innings, the knockout punch coming on Murton's blast deep to the stands in left with two outs in the third. Murton added an RBI double and a two-run double in the fifth and sixth, respectively.