Tadashi Settsu pitched eight shutout innings, Hiroki Kokubo had a pair of RBI singles and the Pacific League-leading Softbank Hawks beat the Lotte Marines 4-0 on Sunday.
Settsu (8-4) allowed just two hits, walked one and struck out seven in a 126-pitch outing before Brian Falkenborg worked the ninth at Yahoo Dome.
"I'm happy with the way I pitched," Settsu said. "The run support eased my mind in the late innings. (Toshiya) Sugiuchi-san pitched well yesterday, so I wanted to follow him and keep the team's momentum going."