An RBI sacrifice fly by Atsushi Fujimoto in the third inning was all the Hanshin Tigers needed to post their second straight victory over the Rakuten Eagles 4-0 in the only interleague game held Monday.
Shinjiro Hiyama singled home the second run in the fourth and Tomoaki Kanemoto added two runs on a double -- his second of the night -- in the eighth at Fullcast Stadium in Miyagi Prefecture as the Central League-leading Tigers moved seven games over .500 for their best record this season.
Tsuyoshi Shimoyanagi (6-0) scattered three hits in six innings and combined with three pitchers on a five-hit shutout. Shimoyanagi maintained his perfect record after seven starts while Makoto Kito (0-1) was tagged with the loss in his first game this season.
The Eagles, who were on a season-high four-game winning streak until Saturday, suffered back-to-back losses.
Tuffy fined $1,000
The Associated Press
Yomiuri Giants outfielder Tuffy Rhodes was fined by the Pacific League on Monday for protesting a called third strike in the 12th inning of Sunday's 3-3 tie with the Orix Buffaloes.
Rhodes addressed the home plate umpire with language deemed offensive by the Pacific League office and was slapped with a $1,000 fine.
It's the second time this season that Rhodes has been fined.
In late April, Rhodes was critical of his teammates after a 7-5 loss to the Yakult Swallows and was later fined by his team.