Matt Murton hit a two-run homer to cap a six-run seventh inning, Randy Messenger threw two-run ball over six innings and the Hanshin Tigers routed the Yakult Swallows 11-4 on Sunday.
Hanshin moved within a half game of the Central League-leading Yomiuri Giants.
The Tigers turned a 2-0 deficit into a 6-2 lead in the seventh. Pinch hitter Lin Wei-zhu hit a tying two-run triple and Takashi Toritani drove in the go-ahead run with a groundout.