Lefty Hirotaka Egusa fell just short of his career first complete-game shutout Sunday after surrendering the go-ahead run in the ninth inning as the Hiroshima Carp pulled off a 2-1 win over the Hanshin Tigers.
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| Julio Zuleta of the Fukuoka Softbank Hawks charges the mound after being hit by a pitch by Nippon Ham hurler Satoru Kanemura during Sunday's game at Yahoo Dome. |
Keiji Fukui singled to lead off the ninth followed by Koichi Ogata's double to right to put runners at second and third before Tomonori Maeda and Shigenobu Shima each hit sacrifice flies to right to help Hiroshima end a five-game losing streak.
Osamu Hamanaka's seventh home run of the season in the second provided the sole run support for Egusa (1-1), who allowed two runs and five hits while striking out six and walking one over the distance in the Central League game at Koshien Stadium.