Home runs by Hayato Sakamoto and Shinnosuke Abe lifted the Yomiuri Giants to a 3-1 win on Saturday over the Hiroshima Carp and earned ace Tetsuya Utsumi his first win in over two months.
Sakamoto's eighth homer of the year tied it 1-1 in the sixth before 44,497 at Tokyo Dome, and Abe capped the three-run frame with his 10th homer, a two-run shot off Carp rookie Daichi Osera (6-5). The win pushed the Carp 4½ games back of the Central League-leading Giants.
Utsumi (2-6), who last won on May 29, scattered seven hits and two walks over six innings, while striking out four. Following his first win of the season, Utsumi had spent time with the farm team due to inflammation in his left shoulder.