Hitting a record ...

Murton tops Ichiro’s hit mark

When Ichiro Suzuki banged away at hit records in the states, he got a song written for him. No one here is making songs about Matt Murton, but it’s OK. He has enough hits of his own.
Murton broke Suzuki’s NPB single-season hit record in a 17-4 mauling of the Yakult Swallows on Tuesday, and still has two games left.
Murton had three hits to increase his total to 213, while putting together his 25th game of three or more hits. He drove in three runs, as did Craig Brazell -- who homered twice -- and Tomoaki Kanemoto.
The Tigers blew the game open with a nine-run second inning to back Atsushi Nomi (8-0), who gave up four runs over five shaky innings but got the win.
Yakult’s Norichika Aoki went 1-for-4 to bring his career-best hit total to 205.
The Tigers remained percentage points ahead of the third-place Yomiuri Giants.

GIANTS 4, BAYSTARS 0
Yomiuri used four pitchers to shut out Yokohama and remain in third place with a victory at Yokohama Stadium.
Alex Ramirez belted his league-best 48th longball, and Hisayoshi Chono, hitting in the top spot for the first time, cracked his first leadoff homer.
It was the 15th whitewash hurled at the last-place BayStars, who will finish in the cellar for the third straight year.
Hideki Asai (4-1) worked six scoreless frames, allowing four hits and a walk, while fanning three.
Marc Kroon got the final out for his 25th save.