Minoru Iwata limited the damage to three runs in seven innings and helped his own cause with a tiebreaking RBI single as the Hanshin Tigers beat the Fukuoka Softbank Hawks 5-3 on Friday.
The Tigers rapped out nine hits and the Hawks saw their undefeated streak end after 13 games, including two ties. It was Softbank's first loss in interleague play.
Iwata's bases-loaded single made it 2-1 in the second and another run scored the same inning when Matt Murton hit into a double play with the bases loaded.