Shota Morishita went 4-for-5 with three RBIs and rookie Shoki Murakami threw seven solid innings as the Hanshin Tigers beat the Hiroshima Carp 7-2 on Friday.
The Tigers regained the Central League lead from the Carp, who had their winning streak snapped at 10 games. Morishita singled in the game's opening run in the first inning and keyed a four-run sixth with a two-run single at Koshien Stadium.
The Tigers went ahead 3-2 in the third when Carp right fielder Takayoshi Noma botched a ground-ball base hit to him, allowing two runners to score.
Murakami (7-5) held the Carp to two runs while striking out five and walking one. Yusuke Nomura (1-1) took the loss.
In other CL action, the DeNA BayStars edged the Yakult Swallows 5-4, while the Yomiuri Giants outslugged the Chunichi Dragons 11-5.
In the Pacific League, the Nippon Ham Fighters blanked the Orix Buffaloes 4-0, the Rakuten Eagles beat the Seibu Lions 5-1 and the Lotte Marines defeated the SoftBank Hawks 8-5.
