In a pitchers' duel that lived up to its billing, Giants shortstop Hayato Sakamoto made the difference in Yomiuri's 1-0 win over the Hiroshima Carp on Wednesday.
With two outs and runners on the corners at Tochigi Prefecture's Utsunomiya Stadium, Carp leadoff man Tomohiro Abe hit a low liner between third and short that Sakamoto dove for and speared to preserve Yomiuri's lead.
The play made a winner out of right-hander Tomoyuki Sugano (3-2) in a duel with Carp ace Kenta Maeda (1-2). Sugano allowed three hits and two walks over eight innings, while striking out 10.