Katsuki Azuma threw a five-hitter for the Yokohama DeNA BayStars' second straight complete-game victory, 2-0 over the Central League-leading Hanshin Tigers on Saturday.
A day after Shota Imanaga went the distance in the series opener for DeNA at Yokohama Stadium, Azuma (7-2) followed suit as the second-place BayStars moved to within a half-game of the CL lead.
Azuma struck out nine without a walk to outduel fellow lefty Masashi Ito (2-2), who took the loss despite seven solid innings.
"Before the game, I felt some nerves, and I was thinking way too much. Into that situation, my catcher, Yudai (Yamamoto), asserted himself and called a magnificent game," Azuma said. "Yudai is really today's hero.
"I was able to challenge batters in the strike zone without walking anyone. That was the best thing."
After the Tigers went down 1-2-3 in the first, Taiki Sekine opened Yokohama's first inning with a single, stole a base and scored on a Keita Sano single. Sixth-inning doubles by Taishi Ota and Shugo Maki made it 2-0.
The third-place Yomiuri Giants fell 3-1 to the Hiroshima Carp, while the Chunichi Dragons beat the Tokyo Yakult Swallows by the same score in their bottom-of-the-table CL clash.
In the Pacific League, the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks widened their lead over the defending champion Orix Buffaloes to a full game when Akira Nakamura singled in the go-ahead run in a 3-2 walk-off win. The Chiba Lotte Marines also won on their final swing, coming from behind to beat the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters 5-4.
At the bottom of the PL standings, the Seibu Lions edged the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles 1-0.