Ryoji Aikawa broke a scoreless deadlock with a two-out RBI single in the seventh inning and Katsuki Akagawa came two outs from pitching his first career shutout as the Tokyo Yakult Swallows downed the Hiroshima Carp 1-0 on Friday.
Yakult snapped a three-game losing skid and moved within a half-game of the Central League-leading Chunichi Dragons, who played out a 4-4, 10-inning tie against the Yomiuri Giants
Akagawa (6-1) scattered three hits, struck out five and walked one at Jingu Stadium. Lim Chang Yong got the final two outs for his 31st save.
Giancarlo Alvarado (3-7) was tagged with the loss for the Carp, who are winless in their last 10 games, including two ties.
Tigers 4, BayStars 0
At Yokohama Stadium, Minoru Iwata allowed just two hits over the distance as Hanshin blanked Yokohama for its fourth straight win.
Iwata (9-12) struck out 10 and walked three while helping his own cause with a squeeze bunt that plated the opening run in the fifth inning.
Craig Brazell hit his third home run in two games with a solo shot in the ninth. Daisuke Miura (4-5) took the loss.
Giants 4, Dragons 4 (10)
PACIFIC LEAGUE
Marines 9, Eagles 4
At Sendai's Kleenex Stadium, Shunichi Nemoto homered and drove in five runs, powering Chiba Lotte to a win over Tohoku Rakuten.
Nemoto hit a two-run double in the second inning before adding a three-run blast in the eighth. Tadahito Iguchi also cleared the fence and finished with three RBIs for the Marines.
Yuki Karakawa (10-6) reached double-digit wins for the first time in his career after allowing four runs in six innings. Hisashi Iwakuma (6-7) was roughed up for six runs in five innings.
