Cristopher Mercedes, one of two Yomiuri Giants imports named to the Tokyo Olympic baseball rosters, allowed a run over 7⅔ innings in an 8-1 win over the Central League-leading Hanshin Tigers on Saturday.
The win at Koshien Stadium trimmed the Tigers' lead over the second-place Giants to 2½ games.
Mercedes (5-1) struck out six and walked two while allowing seven hits. Along with right-hander Angel Sanchez, Mercedes will join the Dominican Republic's team, which will open the Olympic tournament against Japan on July 28 in Fukushima.