Hiroki Kuroda was forced to wait again for his 200th career win after allowing six runs in 6⅔ innings to the Yomiuri Giants on Wednesday, taking the loss in the Hiroshima Carp's 6-0 defeat in the Central League.
On the final day before the All-Star break, Kuroda (6-5) allowed 10 hits and struck out five on 110 pitches, failing to add to his 120 wins in Nippon Professional Baseball, to go along with his 79 in the majors, with his second loss in as many starts.
His counterpart Kazuto Taguchi (5-6) blanked his hometown team over six frames, giving up three hits and four walks while striking out seven in a 93-pitch outing.