Second-year right-hander Kenichi Nakata threw seven shutout innings and Kosuke Fukudome had a pair of RBI doubles in his comeback from injury Tuesday, leading the front-running Chunichi Dragons to a 7-2 romp of the Hanshin Tigers.
Hanshin Tigers Starter Kei Igawa (left) talks with catcher Akihiro Yano
(right) and pitching coach Yasuo Kubu during the third inning against Chunichi
on Tuesday at Nagoya Dome. The Dragons won 7-2.
KYODO PHOTONakata (4-1) allowed six hits, struck out five and walked four, setting the pace in the Central League game as the regular season resumed after the All-Star break.
Fukudome, who returned the same day from a right knee injury layoff, doubled to deep right to break a scoreless deadlock in the third and Masahiko Morino and Hidenori Kuramoto followed with RBI singles to make it 3-0 at Nagoya Dome.