Takahiro Fujioka worked seven-plus innings as the Pacific League's Chiba Lotte Marines defeated the Hanshin Tigers 5-2 on Sunday afternoon to remain perfect in interleague play. Lotte has won six straight games overall.
Fujioka (3-1) was able to mix up his fastball with a sharp curveball, allowing him to pitch his way out of several scrapes and surrender just two runs on five hits and four walks at Koshien Stadium.
Takashi Ogino delivered an RBI double in the third inning and Saburo Omura a two-out two-run single as the Marines took a three-run lead against Tigers lefty Minoru Iwata (3-1). Tigers third baseman Ryota Arai prolonged the inning when he failed to come up with a sharp one-out grounder and was charged with an error.