Shinnosuke Abe hit a go-ahead three-run homer in the fifth inning and the Yomiuri Giants padded the lead in a three-run sixth to defeat the Hiroshima Carp 6-2 to take the rubber of a three-game set on Sunday.
Abe, who homered for the second straight day, connected on the first pitch he saw from Bryan Bullington — a 142 kph fastball — for his 13th home run of the year. The Giants won their second in a row to return to .500.
"The ball slid off my bat but that was a good thing. I told that ball, 'Get out of here!"' said Abe. "The cheers from the fans I'm sure helped it get over the wall. We have to keep the momentum going."