Kenji Johjima hit a tiebreaking solo homer in the fourth inning, Yasutomo Kubo threw 7 2/3 solid innings and the Hanshin Tigers edged the Chunichi Dragons 3-2 on Friday.
Johjima broke a 2-2 tie with his 18th home run of the season leading off the fourth at Koshien Stadium. The former Seattle Mariners catcher also had two singles and finished the night 3-for-4.
Kubo (9-4) allowed two runs and five hits while striking out 12 and walking two.
Kyuji Fujikawa got the final four outs for his 18th save, striking out three. Kazuki Yoshimi (8-6) took the loss.
Chunichi took a 2-0 lead in the first but Hanshin tied the score in the second on RBI singles from Ryo Asai and Keiichi Hirano.
The Central League-leading Tigers have won three in a row and seven of their last eight games.
Giants 8, Carp 5
At Hiroshima's Mazda Stadium, Edgar Gonzalez hit a pinch-hit grand slam in a seven-run sixth as Yomiuri rallied to beat Hiroshima.
Gonzalez's first grand slam in Japan put the Giants ahead 7-5 and Hayato Sakamoto followed with a shot of his own, both off Kenta Maeda (11-5).
Levi Romero (1-0) won in relief. Tetsuya Yamaguchi picked up his third save. The Carp dropped their fourth straight and fell 20 games below .500.
PACIFIC LEAGUE
Hawks 2, Marines 0
At Chiba Marine Stadum, Hiroki Yamada combined with four relievers on a six-hit shutout, Yuichi Honda and Hitoshi Tamura drove in a run apiece and Fukuoka Softbank beat Chiba Lotte.
Buffaloes 6, Eagles 4
At Sendai's Kleenex Stadium, Tomotaka Sakaguchi drove in three runs as Orix downed Tohoku Rakuten to extend its winning streak to six games.
