Veteran shortstop Hayato Sakamoto hit a three-run homer to back a solid start by Kai Yokogawa as the Yomiuri Giants completed a three-game sweep of the Yakult Swallows with a 6-3 win Thursday.
Sakamoto's sixth home run of the season, coming with two runners on base, broke a 1-all tie in the fifth inning of the Central League game at Jingu Stadium.
The 2019 CL MVP has shown signs of recovery at the plate after struggling to a .186 batting average in March-April.
Yokogawa (3-2) allowed one run and two hits in six innings. Cy Sneed (3-2) took the loss.
"I wanted to keep the team's momentum going, so I pitched my heart out against each batter," said Yokogawa, who helped his own cause with an RBI single in the sixth.
"My catcher (Takumi Oshiro) called a good game. I just needed to follow his lead."
In other action, the CL-leading Hanshin Tigers beat the Chunichi Dragons 4-1 to extend their season-best winning streak to seven games. The DeNA BayStars trounced the Hiroshima Carp 13-3.
In the Pacific League, the Lotte Marines defeated the Orix Buffaloes 5-1, while the Nippon Ham Fighters beat the Seibu Lions 6-2.
