Akihiro Yano hit a bases-clearing triple off Denny Tomori with none out and the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth inning, leading the Hanshin Tigers to a 5-4 “sayonara” triumph over the slumping Yokohama BayStars on Tuesday night at Koshien Stadium.
With the BayStars up 4-2 in the ninth, the Tigers rallied against Yokohama starter Daisuke Miura for back-to-back singles by Shinjiro Hiyama and Atsushi Kataoka. Tomori replaced Miura, but hit George Arias with a pitch to load the bases.
Yano then ripped a triple deep into right-center field to complete the comeback win.
It was the BayStars’ eight straight defeat and 12th consecutive loss to the Tigers.
Giants 8, Carp 3
At Sapporo Dome, Yoshinobu Takahashi nailed a three-run homer in the first inning and Takayuki Shimzu homered for two runs in the second, helping Yomiuri snap Hiroshima’s four-game winning streak.
Koji Uehara (6-2) gave up three runs on eight hits while striking out eight over 7-2/3 innings for the victory.
Dragons 3, Swallows 1
At Nagoya Dome, Shigeki Noguchi (5-2) allowed six hits and fanned six over 7-1/3 innings to lead Chunichi over Yakult, which lost its third in a row.
PACIFIC LEAGUE
Buffaloes 7, Marines 3
At Osaka Dome, Masahiro Abe hit a game-tying double in the fourth inning and Hirotoshi Kitagawa doubled home the decisive run in a three-run fifth as Kintetsu overcame a 3-0 deficit to defeat Lotte.
The Marines suffered their fifth straight loss for the first time this season.
Lions 6, Fighters 4
At Tokyo Dome, Seibu rookie Taketoshi Goto drove in three runs and five pitchers combined on an eight-hitter as the Lions edged Nippon Ham.
Seibu’s fourth pitcher Shinji Mori earned the win while Kiyoshi Toyoda picked up his 16th save of the season.
BlueWave vs. Hawks — late
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