Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles ace Masahiro Tanaka surrendered a leadoff homer in the first inning but did little wrong after that as he went the distance in a 2-1 interleague victory over the Japan Series champion Yomiuri Giants on Wednesday.

Tanaka, who may be headed to the big leagues as early as this winter, won his fifth consecutive start. He is 7-0 in eight starts this season, although this was the right-hander's first complete game.

"It's a good thing to win," said Tanaka, who was Japan's ace in the recent World Baseball Classic.