Ryosuke Hirata broke a 1-1 tie with a sixth-inning RBI double as the Chunichi Dragons prevented Hiroki Kuroda from recording his 200th career victory in top-flight pro ball with a 4-1 win over the Hiroshima Carp in the Central League on Wednesday.
"We didn't want to be the ones he beat for his 200th win, so to Mr. Kuroda I want to say, 'Please get it next week,' " Hirata said after the Dragons home game in Ishikawa Prefecture.
Raul Valdes (3-2) allowed seven hits and four walks, but just one run over seven innings to earn the win. The right-hander struck out two. Daisuke Yamai and Shinji Tajima each worked a scoreless inning against the high-powered Carp offense, with Tajima earning his sixth save.