Akihiro Yano and Atsushi Kataoka both hit two-run homers Wednesday to power the Central League-leading Hanshin Tigers to a 7-1 win over the Hiroshima Carp at Koshien Stadium.
Kataoka connected in the bottom of the second inning off Hiroshima starter Koji Hiroike. Yano drove in two more runs in the sixth before belting his fourth homer of the season in the bottom of the eighth to make it 7-1.
Hanshin starter Keiichi Yabu picked up the win after giving up one run on four hits over seven innings as the Tigers won for the fourth straight time and opened up a seven-game lead in the standings.