Yuya Yanagi went eight innings without allowing a run to help lead the Chunichi Dragons to a 5-1 win over the Hanshin Tigers on Saturday.
Yanagi (3-1) fanned 12 at Koshien Stadium, including six straight in the third and fourth innings, while Randy Messenger (2-3) gave up three first-inning runs that proved fatal.
The 25-year-old Yanagi scattered five hits among 31 batters and left the game unscathed, but Dominican reliever Joely Rodriguez gave up two singles in the home half of the ninth and an RBI groundout from Jefry Marte helped the Tigers avoid a shutout.