Junichi Kawahara (2-0) shut down Chunichi batters on five hits Sunday as the Yomiuri Giants defeated the Dragons 5-0 at Tokyo Dome for their eighth win in their last 10 games.
Kawahara's victory lifted the Giants into a five-game lead in the Central League standings over the Dragons and the Yakult Swallows.
Takayuki Shimizu hit a two-run homer in the third inning and Akira Eto had a hit and a sacrifice to score a run and drive in another for the Giants.