Alex Ochoa and Hidenori Kuramoto had consecutive RBI hits to drive in three runs in the fourth inning and Kenshin Kawakami and the Central League-leading Chunichi Dragons prevailed 3-2 over the Hanshin Tigers on Friday.
Chunichi's Alex Ochoa slides safely into home, scoring from second base on Hidenori Kuramoto's two-run single in the fourth inning against the Tigers at Nagoya Dome on Friday. The Dragons beat Hanshin 3-2.
KYODO PHOTOOchoa hit an RBI double followed by Kuramoto's two-run single to left at Nagoya Dome as Chunichi went on to win its fourth straight game while beating Hanshin for the fifth time in a row.
Kawakami (13-2) allowed just four hits, including a two-run pinch-hit double to Shinjiro Hiyama in the fifth, struck out 11 and walked two before Hitoki Iwase pitched a perfect ninth for his league-leading 31st save.