Overview

• Hanshin Tigers secured a 6-1 victory over the Hiroshima Carp to extend their win streak to nine games, marking their longest run in two years.
• SoftBank Hawks cruised to a 9-1 win against the Orix Buffaloes, fueled by Kondo’s third-inning grand slam and a six-win outing from starter Arihara.
• Rakuten Eagles snapped a four-game losing skid with a 7-2 triumph over the Seibu Lions, highlighted by homers from Boito, Tatsumi and Kurokawa and Yaha Re’s first victory since joining the club.
• Munetaka Murakami returned to game action for the first time since mid-April in an Eastern League contest, logging two plate appearances and playing third base as he works toward a first-team comeback.
• Chunichi Dragons rookie Yuta Ishii hit his first professional home run, while Yumeto Kanamaru lost a win bid when reliever Tatsuya Shimizu surrendered a ninth-inning walk-off rally against the Yomiuri Giants.