Jordan Norberto blanked the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters over 7⅔ innings and Ryosuke Hirata hit a decisive RBI double as the Chunichi Dragons claimed a 1-0 win to snap their four-game skid on Friday in interleague action.
Norberto (4-1), who fanned eight while allowing five hits and two walks, outlasted his unfortunate counterpart Luis Mendoza (4-4), who held Chunichi to a run on three hits with no walks in seven innings. Mendoza struck out six.
Mendoza started with three perfect innings but gave up a leadoff single to Yohei Oshima in the fourth. After a sacrifice, Hirata doubled to the left field to drive in the precious run.