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.

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.
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