Hiroki Kokubo hit a three-run homer to give lefty Toshiya Sugiuchi run support in his third complete game, powering the Softbank Hawks to a 5-1 win over the Orix Buffaloes on Tuesday night.
Seibu's G.G. SATO hits a solo homer off Chiba Lotte starter Yoshihisa Naruse in the second inning on
Tuesday night at Chiba Marine Stadium.
KYODO PHOTOWith runners on first and second at Yahoo Dome, Kokubo connected in the fifth with one out to the stands in left off reliever Yuki Tanaka.
Sugiuchi (6-1) scattered eight hits, striking out four and walking none in a 142-pitch outing.
Marines 2, Lions 1
At Chiba Marine Stadium, Kazuya Fukuura and Tomoya Satozaki both had RBI singles to help make a winner of Yoshihisa Naruse as Lotte downed Seibu.
Eagles 3, Fighters 2 (12)
At Tokyo Dome, Tohoku Rakuten beat Hokkaido Nippon Ham with a sacrifice fly from Kevin Witt in the top of the 12th inning to record its first five-game winning streak in franchise history.
CENTRAL LEAGUE
Giants 5, BayStars 0
At Yokohama Stadium, Satoshi Fukuda (2-0) pitched seven scoreless innings to lead Yomiuri past Yokohama.
A solo homer by Shinnosuke Abe and RBI doubles from Kenji Yano and Yoshinobu Takahashi made it 5-0 in the sixth, chasing veteran lefty Kimiyasu Kudo (0-4).
Dragons 4, Swallows 0
At Nagoya Dome, Kenta Asakura (3-3) and two relievers combined on a nine-hit shutout as Chunichi beat Yakult for its third consecutive win.
Tyrone Woods his league-leading 17th home run in the win for the Dragons.
Carp 7, Tigers 2
At Yonago Municipal Stadium, Tomonori Maeda hit a three-run homer to cap a four-run first inning as Hiroshima held on to an early lead to beat Hanshin.