The Yomiuri Giants played longball with three solo homers Sunday, including a Central League-leading 21st clout from Hideki Matsui, to extend their current winning streak to five with a 3-1 triumph over the Hanshin Tigers. The victory gave Yomiuri a 1 1/2-game lead in the CL standings over Chunichi and Hiroshima, who both lost.
Akira Eto connected for his 18th homer of the season in the first inning and Matsui capped the scoring at Koshien Stadium with his shot in the ninth. In between, Koji Goto homered in the sixth after Hanshin had tied the game 1-1 in the bottom of the fifth.
Yomiuri starter Koji Uehara (7-3) went the distance for the win, allowing four hits while striking out seven.