Andy Sheets homered and drove home four runs and Tsuyoshi Shimoyanagi combined with three relievers on a five-hit shutout as the Central League-leading Hanshin Tigers blanked the Yakult Swallows 5-0 Friday.
Takahiro Saeki (right) of the Yokohama BayStars celebrates with Takuro Ishii
after hitting a grand slam against the Carp in the sixth inning at Hiroshima
Stadium.
Sheets put Hanshin ahead with an RBI grounder in the first inning and then keyed a four-run seventh with a three-run homer after Takashi Toritani hit a run-scoring infield single at Koshien Stadium.
Shimoyanagi (9-1) held Yakult to three hits and two walks in six innings of work before giving way to the bullpen.