The Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks took a step toward their seventh interleague title on Friday, overcoming Yoshihiro Maru's three home runs to beat the Hiroshima Carp 5-3.
Rick van den Hurk (7-3) allowed eight hits and a walk over seven innings, while striking out nine to earn the win at Mazda Stadium.
Reliever Sho Iwasaki retired Maru for the first time all evening in a scoreless eighth, and former Carp Dennis Sarfate worked a 1-2-3 ninth against the defending Central League champs to record his 20th save.