Hiroshima Carp win as Mochizuki doubles

Hiroshima opened its June 3 interleague game against Hokkaido Nippon-Ham by scoring three times in the first inning at Mazda Stadium, and that early burst held up in a win built around two run-scoring hits. Shogo Sakakura put the Carp ahead with a two-out RBI single, and Taiki Mochizuki followed with a two-run double to right. J SPORTS posted in-game updates from the Hiroshima home stadium, and Nikkan Sports’ live score showed Hiroshima leading 3-1 through three innings before the result was settled. The sequence mattered for a Hiroshima lineup that had struggled early in interleague play. Sports Hochi reported before the game turned that the Carp were the only one of the 12 NPB clubs still without an interleague win, and the first-inning rally came against Nippon-Ham starter Hiromi Itoh. Sakakura also gave a short post-hit comment carried by Sports Hochi, saying Hiroshima had built “a good shape” before his at-bat. (hochi.news) ### How did Hiroshima build the first-inning lead? Hiroshima loaded pressure on Itoh immediately on June 3. Nikkan Sports’ live score showed Nahara opening with a double, followed by a sacrifice by Ryosuke Kikuchi that moved the inning along before Sakakura singled to right with two outs. After Sandro Fabian reached, Mochizuki drove a double to right that brought in two more runs for a 3-0 lead. (hochi.news) Sports Hochi identified Mochizuki as a Hokkaido native, a detail that added context to his hit against the Fighters. The outlet said Hiroshima had entered the night with a.213 team batting average, the lowest among the 12 clubs, making the quick three-run inning more notable. ### What did Sakakura say about the at-bat? Sakakura’s comment was carried by Sports Hochi after his first-inning single. (nikkansports.com) He said, “Nahara and Kiku-san created a good shape for me, so I’m glad we were able to score first against a good pitcher,” according to the report. Sports Hochi also said Sakakura had been productive against Itoh previously, going 2-for-3 against him last year. (hochi.news) Nikkan Sports’ in-game line showed Sakakura with two hits and one RBI through the first three innings. ### What was happening on the mound while Hiroshima led? Nikkan Sports listed Hiroshima left-hander Hiroki Tokoda and Nippon-Ham right-hander Hiromi Itoh as the starting pitchers. (hochi.news) Through three innings, Tokoda had allowed one run on three hits, while Itoh had been charged with three runs on four hits in 2 2/3 innings. The Fighters got one run back in the third inning. (hochi.news) Nikkan Sports’ live score showed Yua Tamiya reaching and later scoring, with Mizuno credited with one RBI as Nippon-Ham cut the deficit to 3-1 at that stage. ### Where did the updates come from during the game? J SPORTS was carrying the game and posting updates on X on June 3, according to the source briefing provided for this story. (nikkansports.com) Sports Hochi and Nikkan Sports also published same-day reports and live scoring from Mazda Stadium. The Fighters’ official website says its game-information page carries schedules, scoreboards, game reports and broadcast information for official Pacific League games. (nikkansports.com) That page is the next official reference point for the clubs’ continuing series. ### What comes next in the series? The June 4 game is the next scheduled meeting in the Hiroshima-Nippon-Ham set at Mazda Stadium, according to the Fighters’ official game-information page and Sports Hochi’s June 3 coverage context. (hochi.news) Hiroshima will try to build on the early offense that Sakakura and Mochizuki supplied, while Nippon-Ham turns to the next game in the interleague visit. (fighters.co.jp)