The Pacific League's Rakuten Eagles moved closer to winning their first interleague championship by completing a three-game sweep of the Central League's Yomiuri Giants with a 3-0 victory on Thursday.
Lefty Masaru Fujii (5-1) allowed three walks and three hits over five innings at Rakuten Mobile Park Miyagi, and four relievers completed the three-hit shutout.
Rakuten's Maikel Franco singled in the game's first run in the fourth inning. The Eagles added two insurance runs in the seventh, and closer Takahiro Norimoto worked a 1-2-3 ninth to secure his 16th save.
The Eagles lead the interleague standings with a 12-3 record, while the Giants have lost six straight decisions for the first time in two seasons.
Among other interleague games on Thursday, the CL-leading Hiroshima Carp beat the PL's last-place Seibu Lions 5-0 behind a two-hitter from Allen Kuri (3-4).
The defending CL champion Hanshin Tigers salvaged the final game of their series against the reigning PL champion Orix Buffaloes with a 5-0 victory behind a complete game from former Buffalo Yuki Nishi (3-3).
