Rookie Daichi Osera (3-1) came within three outs of his first shutout but settled for his first complete game as the Hiroshima Carp avoided a three-game sweep on Thursday night by beating the Hanshin Tigers 6-1.
Osera, the Carp's top draft pick last autumn, allowed eight hits and two walks, while striking out seven to win his third straight decision and move Central League-leading Hiroshima one full game ahead of second-place Hanshin.
"If you are a starter, you never really want to surrender the mound to another pitcher, so I'm pretty happy with getting a complete game. At the end I was trying to hang in there and use all my strength on each and every pitch."