Shinji Takahashi and Eiichi Koyano drove in seven runs between them as the Nippon Ham Fighters beat the Yomiuri Giants 8-4 Wednesday to even the Japan Series at two games apiece.

Takahashi put Nippon Ham ahead 2-0 with a bases-loaded single in a four-run third inning and added a solo homer in the fifth off Hisanori Takahashi (0-1) at Tokyo Dome.

Kensuke Tanaka and Hichori Morimoto had back-to-back singles with one out in the third. After Tanaka stole third, Atsunori Inaba drew a walk to load the bases for Takahashi.

The cleanup hitter then lined the first pitch he saw from the Yomiuri left-hander into left field. Koyano added a two-run double in the inning.

Tomoya Yagi (1-0) threw five innings of one-run ball, scattering seven hits and two walks.

Morimoto pushed Nippon Ham's lead to 6-1 in the seventh when he laid down a squeeze bunt. Koyano made it 8-1 with a two-run single in the eighth.

Tetsuya Matsumoto went 3-for-5 with an RBI single in the third and Alex Ramirez hit a three-run homer off Takayuki Kanamori in the eighth for Yomiuri.