Tetsuto Yamada and Keiji Obiki both bagged three-run homers in the first inning, opening the floodgates as the Tokyo Yakult Swallows blew away the Yokohama BayStars 15-2 in the Central League on Wednesday.
With their offense clicking into gear from the outset, the last-place Swallows racked up 17 hits, including four home runs, at a hot and humid Jingu Stadium.
Masanori Ishikawa (6-5) carried a no-hitter through seven innings, but his spotless night was broken up by Yukiya Ito’s solo home run in the top of the eighth.
The 39-year-old southpaw finished out the inning, taking the win after fanning six, while giving up the one hit and a walk.
BayStars starter Haruhiro Hamaguchi (6-4) lasted just one inning, in which he surrendered seven runs on five hits and a walk.
The lefty hit leadoff batter Taishi Hirooka with a pitch, then walked Norichika Aoki to bring Yamada to the plate. Following a called strike, Yamada belted Hamaguchi’s fastball over center field for his 30th home run of the season.
Following back-to-back singles from Yuhei Takai and rookie power hitter Munetaka Murakami, Yuhei Nakamura scored Takai on a single, setting the stage for Obiki’s bomb.
Wladimir Balentien led off the sixth with a solo homer against Satoshi Iizuka, while Murakami continued the fireworks, going long for a two-run blast against the right-hander. The home runs were No. 25 and 26 this season, respectively, for the two sluggers.
Swallows rookie left-hander Koshiro Sakamoto walked in the BayStars’ second run with the bases loaded and two out in the ninth before retiring the side.
Tigers 6, Dragons 3
Giants 7, Carp 1
PACIFIC LEAGUE
Marines 9, Fighters 4
Hawks 12, Eagles 3
Lions 8, Buffaloes 7
Source : Baseball – The Japan Times
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