Makoto Imaoka hit a three-run homer and Keiichi Yabu came within three outs of a complete-game shutout, leading the Hanshin Tigers to their fifth straight win with a 5-1 victory over the Yokohama BayStars in the Central League on Thursday.
Imaoka's 23rd homer of the season gave the Tigers a 3-0 lead in the third inning and Norihiro Akahoshi and Shinjiro Hiyama chipped in with RBI singles to extend the lead at Osaka Dome.
Yabu (5-7) scattered eight hits with one walk and struck out seven, limiting the damage to a Tyrone Woods solo shot in the ninth before leaving the mound. Yokohama was swept in three games by Hanshin for the first time this season.
Giants 2, Dragons 0
At Tokyo Dome, Hisanori Takahashi pitched a four-hitter against first-place Chunichi for his first shutout in three years, helping to give surging Yomiuri its fourth win in five games.
Tuffy Rhodes hit a sacrifice fly in the first and Takayuki Shimizu drove home a run in the fourth on one of the team's four hits. Chunichi, which also had four hits on the day, is winless in its last five games, including two ties.
Swallows 13, Carp 7
At Hiroshima Stadium, Katsuyuki Dobashi delivered a two-run double to break a 2-2 tie in the second inning and Yakult scored at least one run in every inning through the sixth en route to its romp over last-place Carp.