Takahiro Norimoto won a scintillating pitchers' duel with Rick van den Hurk, before the Pacific League-leading Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles added on a few more runs against the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks' bullpen during a 4-1 win on Wednesday.

Norimoto (10-2) allowed one run over eight innings, while striking out 11. He gave up five hits and walked three. Van den Hurk (8-5), who was burned on a fluke RBI single, gave up two runs on five hits and two walks over 6⅔ strong innings.

The victory, before 27,209 at Kobo Park Miyagi, moved the Eagles 2½ games clear of the Hawks in the PL standings.