John Bale struck out 12 and pitched three-run ball over seven strong innings, and Itsuki Asai hit a grand slam in the final frame, powering the Hiroshima Carp to an 8-5 victory over the first-place Yomiuri Giants on Friday.
Tomonori Maeda got things rolling with a two-run double in the opening inning and Kenta Kurihara connected for a solo homer in the sixth, giving the visitors a 4-1 lead at Tokyo Dome.
Tomohiro Nioka cut the deficit with a two-out, two-run double in the seventh but the Giant offense was stymied for only two hits and two runs in the last two innings.