JAPAN – At Hiroshima Stadium, Takashi Toritani went 3-for-3 with four RBIs and Kentaro Sekimoto hit a grand slam to highlight a seven-run sixth inning as Hanshin beat Hiroshima 14-5 to snap a three-game losing streak.

Toritani singled in Hanshin’s first and third runs, helping it to a 6-0 lead through two innings. Hiroshima pulled within 6-4 in the fifth, but Hanshin broke open the game with the sixth-inning outburst.

Hanshin starter Yuya Ando (11-6) allowed four runs in five innings. Michito Miyazaki (1-6) took the loss.

Giants 7, Swallows 4

At Jingu Stadium, Yoshinobu Takahashi hit a tiebreaking solo homer in the fourth inning and Michihiro Ogasawara added a two-run shot in the fifth as Yomiuri used five home runs to beat Yakult.

Alex Ramirez hit his Japanese baseball-leading 33rd homer of the season with a solo drive in the second. Tetsuya Utsumi (8-7) allowed one run in seven innings while Ryo Kawashima (6-5) gave up four runs in five innings.

Dragons 4, BayStars 2

At Hiratsuka stadium, Kazuhiro Wada hit a go-ahead single in the fifth inning and finished 3-for-4 with two RBIs as Chunichi edged Yokohama.

Kenichi Nakata (7-8) pitched seven innings, allowing two runs on five hits and striking out six. Mike Wood (2-10) yielded three runs over five innings. Masato Kobayashi earned his first career save.

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Tags: Japan