Hiroto Takahashi pitched seven scoreless innings and Seiya Hosokawa doubled in two runs as the Chunichi Dragons edged the Hiroshima Carp 3-2 on Saturday for their first win in six games.
Takahashi (5-7), a member of Japan's 2023 World Baseball Classic-winning team, limited the Carp to two hits, both singles, while striking out five and walking one at Vantelin Dome Nagoya.
Against the 21-year-old right-hander, the Carp could only put a runner in scoring position once, when Matt Davidson grounded out to strand runners on the corners in the seventh.
"I only thought about putting up zeros," Takahashi said. "I was just lucky. Balls hit by the opposing team didn't find a hole. I always go to the mound believing I can get run support from my teammates."
The Dragons started the bottom of the first with five consecutive hits, including Hosokawa's two-run double, and jumped out to a 3-0 lead against Masato Morishita (6-3).
Raidel Martinez picked up his 26th save. The Dragons' Yuki Okabayashi extended his hitting streak to a club record-tying 25 games with a leadoff single in the first.
In other Central League action, the Yomiuri Giants beat the DeNA BayStars 5-1.
