Shuichi Murata and John Bowker homered, lefty Tetsuya Utsumi went seven shutout innings, and the Central League-leading Yomiuri Giants blanked the Yokohama BayStars 6-0 to open a three-game series on Tuesday night.

Yomiuri center fielder Hisayoshi Chono went 3-for-4, delivering a two-run single to put the game out of reach in the eighth. Murata also had three hits, featuring an RBI single after a two-out triple by Itaru Hashimoto in pouring rain in the ninth.

The runaway Giants, who improved to 10-2 this season against the BayStars, can clinch a magic number in their bid for their second consecutive pennant with a win on Wednesday.