Chunichi Dragons vs Yomiuri Giants

Chunichi struck first in the bottom of the 1st. After Shinnosuke Muramatsu was hit by a pitch, Sanó crushed a 2–0 pitch from Takemaru deep to left-centre for a two-run homer — his 14th of the season.

The Dragons added a run in the 2nd. Yuki Hanada led off with a triple to right field and scored on Yuki Okabayashi's RBI single to make it 3–0.

The game broke open in the 3rd. Chunichi sent 10 batters to the plate, scoring five runs on five hits. Sanó delivered the decisive blow — a three-run homer to left, his second of the game and 15th of the season, making it 6–0. Marler helped his own cause with an RBI single. By the time the inning ended, Chunichi led 8–0 and Takemaru had been pulled after 81 pitches.

Okabayashi made it 9–0 in the 5th with a solo home run off reliever Yudai Yokogi — his second of the season — and Chunichi tacked on two more in the 7th on a pinch-hit double from Motoki Fukumoto.

Yomiuri finally got on the board in the 8th against reliever Shota Fujishima. Tatsuki Matsumoto hit a two-run homer — his second of the year — scoring Kenta Urata. Reliever Yuki Miura closed out the 9th with a clean inning to seal the victory.

Sanó's second home run in the 3rd inning effectively ended the contest. After already falling behind 3–0, the Giants handed the ball to Takemaru for the 3rd, and Sanó made him pay with a three-run homer that blew the game open to 6–0. The Dragons sent 10 men to the plate, and Yomiuri never threatened to recover. Takemaru was pulled after recording just two outs in the frame, charged with eight runs on nine hits.

Miguel Sanó, 1B, Chunichi Dragons — Player of the Match. 2-for-5, two home runs (14, 15), five RBIs. His multi-homer game was his first of the 2026 season. Both homers came off Takemaru.

Kyle Marler, P, Chunichi Dragons — 7.0 IP, 5 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 K, 81 pitches. The left-hander lowered his ERA to 3.72 and added an RBI single in the 3rd. It was his fifth quality start of the season.

Yuki Okabayashi, RF, Chunichi Dragons — 3-for-4, solo home run (2nd), two RBIs, two runs scored. His 5th-inning homer off Yokogi capped Chunichi's sixth consecutive scoring frame.

Rintaro Takemaru, P, Yomiuri Giants — 2.2 IP, 9 H, 8 ER, 1 BB, 3 K. The right-hander suffered his worst start of the season, seeing his ERA jump from 3.41 to 3.68.

Chunichi's 13 hits were their second-highest total in a game this season, and their 11 runs equalled a season high. The Dragons scored in six of eight innings — the 4th and 6th were the only frames they were held scoreless. Yomiuri's pitching staff issued only two walks versus 10 strikeouts, but the damage came on contact: four of Chunichi's 13 hits went for extra bases (two Sanó homers, Okabayashi's homer, Hanada's triple, and Fukumoto's double). The Giants' eight hits were scattered and stranded; they went 0-for-6 with runners in scoring position until Matsumoto's two-run homer in the 8th. Chunichi's bullpen allowed two runs over two innings, but the game was effectively decided long before either reliever entered.

Yomiuri (56–48–2) remain second in the Central League, 2.0 games behind the Hanshin Tigers (58–46–1) after Hanshin beat Hiroshima 5–2 on the same day. The Giants have now lost three of their last four and face growing pressure as the pennant race tightens. Chunichi (46–61–1) remain in fifth place but improved to 30–28 at Vantelin Dome, one of the better home records among bottom-half CL teams. The two sides meet again on Sunday, August 16 for Game 20 of the series (06:00 BST / 14:00 JST).

A one-sided afternoon in Nagoya defined entirely by Sanó's bat and Marler's arm. Chunichi played their most complete game of the month, but it came against a Giants side that never looked comfortable after falling behind early. For the Dragons, this is a rare highlight in a lost season. For Yomiuri, it is a reminder that their pitching depth — particularly behind Takemaru — remains a concern heading into the stretch run.