Nobuhiro Matsuda came a homer shy of the cycle and drove in four runs, Kenichi Nakata allowed just two runs over 7-1/3 quality innings and the Fukuoka Softbank Hawks walloped the Hiroshima Carp 16-5 on Saturday afternoon.

The Central League-leading Carp lost their fourth straight while surrendering at least 10 runs for the second straight day. Softbank banged out 21 hits and moved 13 games above .500 — both season highs. The Hawks are second in the Pacific League standings.

Things got off to an ominous start in the Hawks' seven-run first, which featured Matsuda's two-run single and an Akira Nakamura three-run double, and only got worst in front of a partisan crowd of 31,466 in the interleague game at Mazda Stadium.