NAGOYA (Kyodo) — A strong pitching performance by Yudai Ono and a four-run fifth inning propelled the Chunichi Dragons to a 5-2 victory over the Central League-leading Hanshin Tigers on Wednesday, temporarily halting the Tigers’ momentum as they pursue a pennant.
The win keeps Hanshin’s magic number to clinch the Central League title at six. With just weeks remaining in the regular season, every game carries significant weight as the Tigers aim to end a 38-year championship drought. The Dragons, simultaneously occurring, demonstrated their ability to challenge the league’s top team, showcasing a potent combination of pitching and hitting.
Ono (9-4) navigated a challenging outing, conceding solo home runs to Hayato Nakagawa in the third and Shota Morishita in the sixth, but limited the damage over his six innings of work. He allowed five hits and one walk.
The Dragons’ offense erupted in the fifth, capitalizing on ten hits against Tigers starter Masashi Ito (4-1). Seiji Uebayashi drove in a run with a single, followed by a decisive three-run home run to right field by Seiya Hosokawa. Ito surrendered five runs during his six innings pitched.
Takaya Ishikawa answered Morishita’s sixth-inning home run with a hit of his own, extending the Dragons’ lead. Shinya Matsuyama then secured his CL-leading 38th save, closing out the game and ending the Tigers’ three-game winning streak.
In other Nippon Professional Baseball action on Wednesday, the Yomiuri Giants defeated the Yakult Swallows 5-3, and the Pacific League-leading SoftBank Hawks dominated the Orix Buffaloes with a 7-1 victory.
