Masanori Ishikawa scattered three hits over the distance and impressed at the plate as the Yakult Swallows beat the Yomiuri Giants 5-1 at Jingu Stadium on Thursday.
The second-year pitcher chalked up his third complete game of the season, improving to 10-11, and joined five other batters who hit back-to-back singles in a five-run sixth inning.
Ishikawa gave up one run while striking out seven, while Yomiuri starter Hiroshi Kisanuki took the loss after allowing five runs on 11 hits over 5 2/3 innings.
With two out and runners on first and third, Yakult scored five runs in the bottom of the sixth frame on consecutive hits from Ryuji Miyade, Noriyuki Shiroishi, Ishikawa, Mitsuru Manaka and Shinya Miyamoto.
Tomohiro Nioka accounted Yomiuri's only run with a solo shot in the sixth.
There were no other games scheduled for Thursday.
All clear for Iguchi
FUKUOKA (Kyodo) Daiei Hawks infielder Tadahito Iguchi, who twisted his right ankle in a game earlier this week, has been given the green light to play in the Japan Series after undergoing a medical examination, club officials said Thursday.