Kenta Maeda threw two-run ball over seven innings as the Hiroshima Carp routed the Yomiuri Giants 8-2 for their third straight win on Wednesday.
Maeda (11-3) allowed six hits, struck out six and walked two in driving rain. The right-hander pulled into a tie for the most wins in Japanese baseball with Giants pitcher Shun Tono and Fukuoka Softbank Hawks hurlers Tsuyoshi Wada and Toshiya Sugiuchi.
Hiroshima jumped out to a 7-0 lead after the fourth inning, helped by Akihiro Higashide's two-run double that keyed a five-run fifth at Hitachinaka Stadium in Ibaraki Prefecture.
Masato Akamatsu led off the fourth with a homer and Justin Huber and Tetsuya Kokubo each had four hits.