Hideki Matsui belted a solo homer in the ninth inning Sunday to give Yomiuri a sweep of their three-game series with Yakult, as the Giants downed the Swallows 4-3 at Jingu Stadium in Tokyo.
Matsui, who homered for the fourth straight game, helped Yomiuri secure a win after rookie right-hander Hiroki Sanada squandered a three-run lead in the sixth inning and lifted the Giants to a 9 1/2-game lead in the Central League standings.
Yakult reliever Hirotoshi Ishii (3-2) took the loss after giving up the homer to Matsui while Yomiuri closer Junichi Kawahara struck out the side in the bottom of the ninth for his 19th save of the season.