In a matchup of rookie All-Star starting pitchers, Hanshin Tigers teenager Shintaro Fujinami worked six innings to earn the victory in Sunday's 7-0 win over the Yomiuri Giants.
The 19-year-old Fujinami improved to 7-4. He allowed six hits and a walk, while striking out five. Three of the strikeouts came with two outs and a runner in scoring position as he protected the one-run lead he received before taking the mound in the bottom of the first.
"He was able to command his breaking pitches low in the zone and that was the difference between him allowing runs or not," Tigers skipper Yutaka Wada said of the rookie who was facing the Giants for the first time.