Kenichi Nakata pitched three-run ball over eight effective innings Saturday, leading the Chunichi Dragons to a 4-3 win over the Yomiuri Giants to move into first place in the Central League with their seventh straight victory.
Dragons manager Hiromitsu Ochiai talks to his players on the mound in the eighth inning against Yomiuri
at Nagoya Dome on Saturday. Chunichi edged the Giants 4-3.
KYODO PHOTONakata (5-2) scattered seven hits with nine strikeouts and no walks before handing the baton to Hitoki Iwase, who was perfect in the ninth for his 12th save. Lee Seung Yeop had a leadoff homer for his second blast in as many games, giving Yomiuri a 1-0 lead in the second before Chunichi turned the tables the next inning.
Kosuke Fukudome and Tyrone Woods drew consecutive bases-loaded walks with one out followed by a Masahiko Morino RBI single to give Chunichi a 3-1 lead in the third at Nagoya Dome. Fukudome added a run-scoring double in the fourth for insurance.