Tomoyuki Sugano pitched one-run ball over seven innings in a match-up against lefty Minoru Iwata and the Yomiuri Giants rallied to beat the rival Hanshin Tigers 3-1 on Wednesday night.

The Central League-leading Giants beat the third-place Tigers for the second straight night and remained three games ahead of the second-place Hiroshima Carp. The Tigers dropped to 6½ games back after their fifth consecutive loss.

Sugano (10-5), who had just returned from inflammation in a tendon in his right middle finger, scattered seven hits, struck out four and walked two to earn his first win since July 16. The second-year righty notched double-digit wins for the second year in a row.