Yu Sugimoto gave up two runs on six hits over seven innings and Susumu Nakanowatari pitched two scoreless innings in relief as the Yokohama BayStars beat the Yakult Swallows 7-2 at Yokohama Stadium on Sunday.

Sugimoto, who joined Yokohama from the Orix BlueWave at the start of this season, picked up his first win in nine outings.

Central League WonLostTiedPct.GB +Yakult 75 56 6 .573 - Yomiuri 75 63 2 .543 3.5 Hiroshima 66 64 7 .508 8.5 Yokohama 67 66 4 .504 9.0 Chunichi 61 73 4 .455 15.5 Hanshin 57 79 3 .419 20.5 Pacific League WonLostTiedPct.GB +Kintetsu 78 60 2 .565 - Daiei 76 63 1 .547 2.5 Seibu 73 67 0 .521 6.0 Orix 70 66 4 .515 7.0 Lotte 64 74 2 .464 14.0 Nippon Ham 53 84 3 .387 24.5

Hitoshi Nakane went 3-for-3 and Takahiro Saeki drove home three runs on two hits -- including a two-run homer off Yakult starter Shugo Fujii.

The Swallows kept injured catcher Atsuya Furuta out of the roster, and Roberto Petagine, who currently leads the Central League in home runs (39) and RBIs (125), got one at-bat and a walk before leaving the game.

Carp 6, Tigers 3

Luis Lopez and Eddy Diaz -- who drilled his 30th homer of the year -- each went 3-for-4 as Hiroshima beat Hanshin at Hiroshima Stadium.

Third-year hurler Daisuke Sakai held the Tigers to one earned run over 31/3 innings in relief and picked up his first-career victory.

Tigers rookie center fielder Norihiro Akahoshi stole his CL-leading 38th base to go 12 ahead of Yokohama BayStars shortstop Takuro Ishii in the number of steals. Hanshin has one more game left to play.