Ryoji Aikawa hit a two-run triple in the sixth inning to back a solid start by Masanori Ishikawa as the Yakult Swallows beat the Hanshin Tigers 3-1 on Friday to extend their winning streak to a season-high six games.
Aikawa's triple to right field off Tsuyoshi Shimoyanagi (5-5) broke a 1-1 tie at Jingu Stadium. Ishikawa (4-8) allowed one run and five hits in seven innings for the win.
Lim Chang Yong notched his 19th save with a 1-2-3 ninth.
Tigers veteran Tomoaki Kanemoto started in left field for the first time since his record streak of playing in consecutive games without missing an inning ended on April 18 at 1,492.
Dragons 4, Carp 0
At Nagoya Dome, Daisuke Yamai pitched his first shutout since 2004, leading Chunichi over Hiroshima.
Yamai (4-2) scattered five hits and struck out five.
Giants 7, BayStars 6
At Yokohama Stadium, Hayato Sakamoto broke a 5-5 tie with a two-run double in the eighth as Yomiuri beat Yokohama.
Alex Ramirez hit his 30th and 31st home runs, both solo shots, among his three hits.
PACIFIC LEAGUE
Lions 2, Marines 0
At Chiba Marine Stadium, Hideaki Wakui threw his second shutout of the season — a seven-hitter — to lead Seibu past Chiba Lotte for its third win in a row.
Fighters 5, Eagles 4
At Sendai's Kleenex Stadium, Eiichi Koyano doubled in two runs and Yoshio Itoi hit a solo shot as Hokkaido Nippon Ham edged Tohoku Rakuten.
Hawks 6, Buffaloes 1
At Osaka's Kyocera Dome, Jose Ortiz hit a two-run homer in the fifth inning, Kenji Otonari threw six-plus scoreless innings and Fukuoka Softbank downed Orix.
