Makoto Kaneko doubled in two runs and Brian Sweeney threw seven shutout innings as the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters beat the Chiba Lotte Marines 3-1 on Wednesday.
Nippon Ham built a 3-0 lead on Kaneko's bases-loaded double in the second inning and Eiichi Koyano's RBI single in the third at Chiba Marine Stadium.
Sweeney (4-5) scattered four hits, walked none and struck out five. Hisashi Takeda picked up his Pacific League-leading 29th save with a scoreless ninth.