Toshihisa Nishi hit a solo shot off Kei Igawa in the third inning as the Yomiuri Giants set a Japanese record with a homer in each of the 18 games from Opening Day in their 11-4 victory over the Hanshin Tigers on Friday.
Shinnosuke Abe hit his 11th homer of the season to highlight a six-run fifth in the Central League game at Koshien Stadium to ensure the Giants went one better than the previous season-opening record set by the Hankyu Braves (now Orix BlueWave) in 1969.
The Japanese record for homers in consecutive games at any time of the season by a single team is 35, set by the Seibu Lions between Aug. 14 to Sept. 27, 1986.
Nishi went 4-for-6 with three RBIs to lead the visitors' 15-hit attack and Brian Sikorski (1-1) posted his first win this season for pitching a one-hitter in the last three innings. Igawa (3-1) gave up seven runs in five innings.