Yoshihiro Maru hit a pair of three-run homers and Hiroki Kuroda threw seven innings as the Hiroshima Carp whipped the Chunichi Dragons 12-2 in the Central League on Saturday afternoon.

Before Kuroda (4-1) did not walk a batter, nor did he allow two runners to reach in an inning until the fifth, when the Dragons cut Hiroshima's lead to 2-1.

Dragons starter Junki Ito (0-1) held the Carp scoreless until Brad Eldred hit his ninth homer of the season in the fourth. A throwing error by veteran third baseman Masahiko Morino allowed a man to reach and Tomohiro Abe doubled in the runner to make it 2-0.