Right-hander Tomoyuki Sugano pitched his sixth shutout of the season as the third-place Yomiuri Giants beat the second-place Tokyo Yakult Swallows 5-0 in the Central League on Saturday.
In front of 45,025 at Tokyo Dome, Giants ace Sugano (13-8) struck out nine of the 34 batters he faced, while allowing five hits and two walks.
He retired the first three batters he faced, and Hayato Sakamoto went on to score Yomiuri's opening run in a three-run first inning.