Kentaro Nishimura threw seven shutout innings and Michihiro Ogasawara belted a two-run homer as the Yomiuri Giants blanked the rival Hanshin Tigers 3-0 on Wednesday.
Hayato Sakamoto's one-out RBI single opened the scoring in the third and Ogasawara followed in the same frame with a shot over the wall in right-center at Koshien Stadium.
"Each player thought about coach Kimura in today's game and I think that was big in bringing us to victory," Ogasawara said, referring to Yomiuri infield and running coach Takuya Kimura, who died earlier the same morning after suffering a brain hemorrhage.
Nishimura (1-0) gave up three hits, all singles, and walked none to help Yomiuri to its fifth win in six games. Daisuke Ochi escaped a two-on jam in the ninth for the save.