Baseball: Hosokawa, Dragons cut Giants down to size

NAGOYA (Kyodo) — Seiya Hosokawa highlighted a five-run first inning with a three-run home run as the Chunichi Dragons’ low-powered offense showed up big time in a 9-2 win over the Yomiuri Giants on Friday.

Hosokawa opened the scoring at Vanetelin Dome Nagoya with his 15th homer this year, and catcher Takuya Kinoshita capped the rally with a two-run shot.

Dragons lefty Shinnosuke Ogasawara (5-8) worked eight innings and allowed just two runs despite surrendering 10 hits.

The second-place Giants fell two games back of the Hiroshima Carp, who beat the Hanshin Tigers 6-3, with 2023 MVP Shoki Murakami (5-8) taking the loss.