Daichi Osera threw eight innings, leading the Hiroshima Carp to a 3-0 victory over the Chunichi Dragons on Tuesday.
Osera (11-8) gave up six hits, all singles, and a walk, while striking out four as the Carp snapped the Dragons' six-game win streak. Osera, who won for the first time since Aug. 16, had lost his last two decisions.
"The guys gave me courage with their fielding and batting," Osera said. "On the mound, I went back to basics, focusing on my arm action."
Hiroshima opened the scoring in the third inning when Ryoma Nishikawa hit his 16th home run, a one-out solo shot off rookie Kodai Umetsu (3-1), who suffered his first loss. Carp rookie Kaito Kozono made it 3-0 in the seventh with a two-run homer off the right-hander.
Geronimo Franzua retired Chunichi in order in the ninth to close it out for his 12th save.
Giants 4, BayStars 2
At Yokohama Stadium, Kazuma Okamoto homered twice and drove in three runs as Yomiuri came from behind to beat second-place Yokohama.
The win cut the Giants' magic number to clinch the Central League pennant to nine. Yomiuri has not won the CL since 2014.
Swallows 5, Tigers 4 (10)
At Koshien Stadium, defensive replacement Yasutaka Shiomi singled in the go-ahead run in the 10th as last-place Tokyo Yakult defeated Hanshin.
PACIFIC LEAGUE
Marines 10, Fighters 2
At Tokyo Dome, Ayumu Ishikawa (6-5) allowed two runs over six innings, while Leonys Martin hit his 12th home run with a man on and Chiba Lotte pounded Hokkaido Nippon Ham.
