Former New York Mets outfielder Shane Spencer drove in four runs Thursday as the Hanshin Tigers downed the Yomiuri Giants 11-2.
Yokohama Baystars first baseman Takahiro Saeki fails to catch a foul fly by Alex Ramirez of the Yakult Swallows during Thursday's game at Jingu Stadium. The Swallows won 3-2.
Spencer singled home a pair of runs in the first inning at Tokyo Dome and then helped the Tigers take a 6-0 lead in the top of the fifth with another single that scored two runs.
Hanshin starter Kei Igawa picked up the win after holding the Giants to two runs on seven hits over 6 2/3 innings.
Yomiuri veteran Kazuhiro Kiyohara went 0-for-4 at the plate, missing out on a chance to hit his 500th career homer at home.
Yomiuri catcher Shinnosuke Abe returned to the lineup after sitting out two games with a sore back and hit a pair of solo homers for the Giants.
Swallows 3, BayStars 2
At Jingu Stadium, veteran infielder Katsuyuki Dobashi drove in the winning run in the bottom of the ninth on a single to left to lift Yakult to a "sayonara" victory over Yokohama.
Former Seattle Mariners closer Kazuhiro Sasaki gave up the hit to Dobashi and took the loss, his third of the season.
Yakult catcher Atsuya Furuta went hitless in four at-bats and is still two hits shy of reaching his career 2,000th. Alex Ramirez and Ryuji Miyade both hit solo homers for the Swallows.
Carp 13, Dragons 3
At Hiroshima Municipal Stadium, Takahiro Arai connected for a pair of two-run homers to power the Carp over Chunichi.
Hiroshima starter Hiroki Kokubo gave up three runs on five hits over eight innings for the win as the Carp snapped Chunichi's three-game winning streak.
Alex Ochoa hit a pair of solo homers for the Dragons.
With your current subscription plan you can comment on stories. However, before writing your first comment, please create a display name in the Profile section of your subscriber account page.