Veteran left-hander Kimiyasu Kudo went eight strong innings Friday to lead the Yomiuri Giants to a 7-1 win over the Hiroshima Carp.
The 40-year-old Kudo, who improved to 3-0, gave up one run on five hits and struck out five at Hiroshima Stadium for the win.
Kudo helped his own cause at the plate with a clutch double in the fifth that drove in a pair of runs and gave the Giants a 4-1 lead.