Takahiro Norimoto threw eight shutout innings on Saturday as the cellar-dwelling Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles beat the pennant-contending Orix Buffaloes 2-0.

Before 24,593 at Kyocera Dome, Norimoto (11-8), the Pacific League's 2013 Rookie of the Year, allowed three hits, walked three batters and hit one, while striking out seven. Brian Falkenborg retired the Buffaloes in order in the ninth to earn his 14th save as the Eagles snapped a three-game losing streak. The Buffaloes, second in the PL, fell 3-1/2 games behind the Fukuoka Softbank Hawks.

"Today, my fastball was running well from the start, and I tried to get the most I could out of it," said Norimoto, who ratcheted up the speed gun as far as 154 kph. "Towards the middle of the game I was a little wild, but I didn't give in and was able to get through it.