Katsuhiko Miyaji hit a three-run homer in the second inning Thursday and Nobuhiko Matsunaka added a two-run blast in the third as the surging Softbank Hawks defeated the Hanshin Tigers 9-7 in interleague play.
Kosuke Fukudome of The Chunichi Dragons hits a solo homer off Seibu Lions starter Koji Onuma in the third inning Thursday at Nagoya Dome. The Dragons won 3-2.
Miyaji gave the Hawks an early 3-0 lead with a line drive off Hanshin starter Shinobu Fukuhara just over the fence in right field at Koshien Stadium. Matsunaka then widened the lead to 5-0 with his 22nd homer of the season.
Softbank catcher Kenji Jojima hit a two-run homer in the top of the eighth to give the Hawks a comfortable 9-5 lead. It was the 200th homer of Jojima’s career.
There was a scary moment in the bottom of the ninth when Softbank reliever Koji Mise hit Tomoaki Kanemoto in the back of the head with a fastball. Kanemoto was slow in getting up and Mise was ejected from the game after both benches emptied.
Andy Sheets hit a solo homer in the bottom of the ninth and Hanshin scored another run on a wild pitch before Makoto Sato retired the side to nail down the win.
Giants 6, Fighters 5
At Sapporo Dome, Takayuki Shimizu hit a two-run homer in the sixth inning to lift Yomiuri to a win over Hokkaido Nippon Ham.
Shimizu, who drove in four runs, also had a solo homer in the fourth as the Giants won after tying the first two games of the three-game set.
Veteran left-hander Kimiyasu Kudo picked up the win despite giving up five runs on seven hits over 5 2/3 innings.
Dragons 3, Lions 2
At Nagoya Dome, Kenshin Kawakami gave up two runs on 10 hits over seven innings as Chunichi edged Seibu.
Kosuke Fukudome connected for a solo homer in the third inning to give the Dragons a 3-0 lead.
Marines 6, Carp 1
At Chiba Marine Stadium, rookie Yasutomo Kubo gave up one run on eight hits over the distance as Pacific League-leading Chiba Lotte downed Hiroshima.
Veteran infielder Makoto Kosaka drove in two runs in the fourth on an infield single when the Marines scored four times to take a 4-0 lead.
Chiba Lotte won its 40th game — the best in either league — and is a season-high 24 games above .500.
Swallows 4, Buffaloes 1
At Osaka Dome, Akinori Iwamura hit a solo homer in the first inning and Mitsuru Manaka added a two-run blast in the fourth as Central League-leading Yakult downed Orix.
Second-year right-hander Ryo Kawashima pitched a four-hitter over seven strong innings, carrying the Swallows to victory for their fifth straight win in interleague play.
Kawashima (5-2) limited the damage to one run with four strikeouts and two walks to win his fourth consecutive decision.
Eagles at BayStars — ppd.
In a time of both misinformation and too much information, quality journalism is more crucial than ever.
By subscribing, you can help us get the story right.
With your current subscription plan you can comment on stories. However, before writing your first comment, please create a display name in the Profile section of your subscriber account page.