Hiroki Kuroda threw seven scoreless innings and the Hiroshima Carp bullpen barely held on in a 3-2 Central League win on Saturday over the Hanshin Tigers.
Before 31,748 at Mazda Stadium, Kuroda (3-1) allowed four hits but no walks over seven innings, while striking out four to outduel Yuta Iwasada (1-1). The Tigers lefty allowed a run on seven hits and two walks over 6-2/3 innings to suffer the tough loss. Iwasada, who struck out four, saw his ERA rise to 0.95.
"Rather than just pounding the zone, it was about being careful," Kuroda said of his approach a day after Hanshin banged out 19 hits against his team.