Yomiuri Giants rookie Hayato Takagi had his toughest game of the season, but he still managed to improve to 5-0 on Sunday in a 10-3 win over the defensively challenged Hanshin Tigers.
Takagi allowed three runs, two earned, in six innings — the shortest since he also went six in his March 29 pro debut. With less control than he usually displays, the right-hander gave up six hits, while walking two and striking out three.
"Today was not about my shutting them down with my pitching, but about our scoring a lot of runs," said the 25-year-old Takagi, who had faced few challenges in his first five starts. "To be honest, I see myself as a grinder, a pitcher who can hang on when things are going bad."