Ginjiro Sumitani's two-run fourth-inning double broke up a scoreless tie, and right-hander Toshiki Sakurai (1-0) allowed a run over eight innings for the Yomiuri Giants in a 5-3 Central League win over the Yokohama DeNA BayStars on Thursday.
The Giants had left runners in scoring position in each of the first three innings against BayStars right-hander Shinichi Onuki (0-1) but cashed in when Sumitani went down for a low 1-2 fastball and lined it to right. The opposite-field double scored Yoshiyuki Kamei from third and Gerardo Parra from first.
Sakurai gave up his only run in the fifth on Toshiro Miyazaki's fourth home run. The Giants starter allowed two hits and two walks while striking out nine.