Hanshin ace Atsushi Nomi struck out 13 batters in six innings and the Hanshin Tigers beat Fukuoka Softbank 4-3 on Saturday, handing the Hawks their first interleague loss of the season.

Nomi (5-4) allowed three runs on seven hits and four walks as the Tigers improved to 2-2 against Pacific League clubs and moved one game back of the Central-League-leading Hiroshima Carp. The lefty walked four.

The Tigers opened the scoring in the first, when Takashi Toritani singled in a run against Kenichi Nakata, who moved from the CL to the PL as a free agent over the winter.