Rookie right-hander Yuta Nakamura worked six innings to pace the Central League-leading Hiroshima Carp to a 7-1 interleague win over the Chiba Lotte Marines on Sunday.
Before 31,321 at Mazda Stadium, the 21-year-old Nakamura located his fastball and a nasty slider to improve to 3-0 in four starts. He gave up one run on four hits, two walks and a hit batsman, while striking out five.
The Carp took a first-inning lead against Chihaya Sasaki (2-5) on a Kosuke Tanaka leadoff single and an RBI double by Yoshihiro Maru. Nakamura pitched out of second- and third-inning jams, and was rewarded for his efforts in the fourth.