Hayato Sakamoto hit a two-run home run, and Kentaro Nishimura (2-1) threw two innings of scoreless relief as the on-fire Yomiuri Giants held off the rival Hanshin Tigers 4-3 to move 20 games above .500 on Tuesday.
Shinnosuke Abe opened the scoring with an RBI single in the first and Sakamoto went deep to left-center at Koshien Stadium in the third, off lefty Minoru Iwata (5-9), for his first home run in 17 games.
"I made great contact," said Sakamoto, who connected on Iwata's 1-2 fastball. "The wind carried it over the wall," he said.