A powerful statement ...

Heart of the order beats up B’Stars

The Chunichi Dragons struggled early but found their rhythm late in a 5-2 win over the Yokohama BayStars on Tuesday in Hamamatsu.
Tony Blanco cracked a two-run shot in the sixth inning (his 17th) out of the No. 5 hole, and No. 3 hitter Masahiko Morino (his ninth) and Kazuhiro Wada (his 18th) went back-to-back in the eighth as the Dragons exploded in time to win the opener of a three-game set.
The Dragons had a four-run lead in the ninth, but after Takuya Asao allowed a run, Hitoki Iwase came on to shut it down for his 252st career save, tying him for second on the all-time list with “Daimajin” Kazuhiro Sasaki.
The first 10 Dragons failed to reach base before two singles off Daisuke Miura (3-5) put two on. A double play got Miura out of the inning, but the Dragons got to him in the fifth.
Starter Kenta Asakura (3-3) won his first game since May 3, holding the Central League’s fifth-place team to one run on six hits and no walks with five Ks over seven innings as Chunichi broke a three-game skid at Hamamatsu.

GIANTS 5, SWALLOWS 1
Shun Tono (9-2) held Yakult to one run over six innings to become the CL's second nine-game winner, and Hisayoshi Chono had an RBI single in the seventh and a two-run homer in the ninth as Yomiuri won at Jingu Stadium.
Giants closer Marc Kroon had to leave the game after getting two out because of pain in his left thigh.

TIGERS 13, CARP 7, 11 innings
Shinjiro Hiyama’s two-run double in the top of the 11 th gave Hanshin the lead and Matt Murton bashed a grand slam in a victory over host Hiroshima.
The Tigers got even in the eighth inning with a two-out, two-run triple by Kentaro Sekimoto.

PACIFIC LEAGUE
BUFFALOES 9, MARINES 1
Hisao Arakane doubled three times and drove in three, and righty Hiroshi Kisanuki (7-5) worked eight innings, allowing a run on seven hits and three walks with five punchouts at Chiba Marine Stadium.
Keiji Obiki led five players with two hits each, doubling and driving in one as Orix halted a three-game skid after winning the interleague title.

LIONS 5, EAGLES 3
Takayuki Kishi (9-4) held Rakuten to three runs over six innings at the Kleenex Box to move into a four-way tie atop the PL with his fourth win as the Lions moved a season-high 17 games over .500.
Dee Brown had two hits and two RBIs, and Brian Sikoriski worked a perfect ninth for his 22nd save.

FIGHTERS 7, HAWKS 0
Masaru Takeda (5-5) scattered seven hits over the distance to help Nippon Ham win at Fukuoka Yahoo! Japan Dome.