By Steve Trautlein

Sports Aug. 20, 2011 - 06:48AM JST ( 1 )

The Yomiuri Giants beat crosstown rivals Yakult Swallows 3-2 on Friday to take sole possession of second place in the Central League. A trio of Giants pitchers limited the league-leading Swallows to a pair of late runs, and Yomiuri picked up the win despite being outhit 11-4 in front of the home crowd at Tokyo Dome.

Giants starter Hirokazu Sawamura (6-9) tossed seven-plus effective innings, scattering eight hits and striking out eight while walking none. Swallows starting pitcher Kyohei Muranaka (2-3) also lasted seven innings but gave up an RBI single to center fielder Hisayoshi Chono in the first and a solo homer by third baseman Michihiro Ogasawara in the second. The Swallows scratched out single runs in the eighth and ninth innings, but Giants reliever Yuya Kubo worked out of jams in both frames to earn his tenth save of the year.

Elsewhere in the Central League, Chunichi edged Hiroshima 2-1, and the game between Hanshin and Yokohama was rained out. In the Pacific League, Softbank topped Rakuten 4-1 and Nippon Ham beat Orix 3-2, while rain postponed the game between Seibu and Chiba.