Hisayoshi Chono went 3-for-4 and drove in a run and Shinnosuke Abe homered as the Yomiuri Giants held off the Hanshin Tigers in a 7-5 win to move into second place in the Central League on Tuesday.
Tetsuya Utsumi (11-8) allowed four runs and six hits in five-plus innings. Marc Kroon picked up his 24th save. Jason Standridge (10-5) took the loss.
Alex Ramirez had an RBI single and Chono added a run-scoring single in a three-run first. Abe's solo shot — his 43rd homer of the year — made it 7-4 in the top of the seventh.