Rookie Seishu Hatake allowed a run in eight innings as the Yomiuri Giants beat the Yokohama BayStars 6-1 on Sunday to complete a three-game sweep.
The win before 44,625 at Tokyo Dome pushed the fourth-place Giants to within two games of the BayStars, who occupy third place in the Central League — and the CL's playoff spot.
Locating his fastball like a laser pointer, Hatake (3-1) surrendered three hits, while striking out nine. Yomiuri's second-round draft pick last autumn, Hatake walked one batter in a 125-pitch outing.