Tomohiro Nioka swung the big bat for Yomiuri, going 4-for-5 with two home runs, while lefty Hisanori Takahashi tossed seven solid innings as the Giants downed the Central League front-running Hanshin Tigers 6-2 at Koshien Stadium on Friday.
The Giants are now in second place, 8 1/2 games behind the Tigers.
With one out in the first, Nioka slammed a solo homer into the left-center bleachers to put the Giants up 1-0.