Rookie Shoma Kanemura protected a first-inning lead for 6-2/3 innings as the Nippon Ham Fighters dealt the playoff-chasing Rakuten Eagles a 3-0 loss Friday in the Pacific League.
The Eagles' loss at their home park, Sendai's Rakuten Mobile Park Miyagi, left them trailing the third-place SoftBank Hawks by two games in the battle for the PL's third and final playoff spot.
Kanemura (2-1) allowed three hits and two walks in his first major league game since April 18. Having struck out six or more batters in each of three early-season starts, Kanemura struck out just three but was in complete control.
"I was really nervous, pitching for the first time in so long, but I was able to pitch the way I need to," he said.
"Instead of the strange way I had been pitching well before, I was able to execute my style of pitching, which is more about changing speeds."
Lefty Ryusei Kawano relieved him in the seventh, retiring veteran pinch-hitter Ginji Akaminai with the potential tying runs on base.
Chusei Mannami opened the game for the visitors with a double off Rakuten's Shoma Fujihira (2-4). After two walks, Mannami scored on a double play before Gosuke Kato's RBI single made it 2-0.
With a 3-0 ninth-inning lead, Fighters closer Seigi Tanaka's third strikeout of the inning allowed him to strand two runners and earn his 24th save.
Both of the two Central League games scheduled for Friday were washed out.
