Yakult's Alex Ramirez went 4-for-5 and drove in seven runs in his team's 16-hit batting rampage as the Swallows trounced the Hanshin Tigers 14-3 at Jingu Stadium on Friday night.

Roberto Petagine singled home two runs and Ramirez homered for two runs in a six-run first inning. Ramirez hit a two-run double in a four-run second inning. The Venezueran player then hammered another two-run homer in the sixth off reliever Satoshi Funaki.

Hanshin scored three runs on 13 hits and has lost to Yakult in the last four games.