Ryuhei Matsuyama opened the scoring and hit a decisive solo home run as the Hiroshima Carp beat the Central League-leading Yomiuri Giants 2-1 on Saturday.
Matsuyama opened the scoring with an RBI double in the third off rookie Hayato Takagi (7-7), before he connected on a 1-1 pitch off the right-hander to drive the ball over the left-field wall in the eighth to again put the Carp ahead at Tokyo Dome.
Kenta Maeda (9-7) allowed a game-tying solo shot to Seiji Kobayashi in the fifth, but held the Giants to four hits. The Carp ace struck out eight in seven innings without a walk and moved in to a tie for most wins in the CL.