Randy Messenger allowed one run over six innings to earn his ninth win as the Hanshin Tigers took down the Hiroshima Carp 2-1 on Monday night.
As Nippon Professional Baseball resumed play after the weekend's All-Star break, the second-place Tigers moved within seven games of the runaway Central League leaders before 46,769 at Koshien Stadium.
Messenger (9-5) issued a two-out bases-loaded walk in the third, but allowed only two more base runners in his 128-pitch outing. The right-hander struck out five, walked five and allowed six hits.