TOKYO (Interstat) — Forrest Whitley dominated over seven shutout innings, and the Yomiuri Giants struck early to rout the Tokyo Yakult Swallows 8-2 on Friday night at Meiji Jingu Stadium.

Whitley allowed just two hits and struck out nine, overpowering a Yakult lineup that entered with the Central League’s best record. The Giants battered losing pitcher Nash Walters immediately, scoring four runs in the first inning. Riku Masuda delivered a two-run single in the frame.

Yomiuri added three more in the third, highlighted by Trey Cabbage’s two-run double. Bobby Dalbec capped the Giants’ 12-hit attack with a ninth-inning solo homer. Yakult avoided the shutout with two runs in the bottom of the ninth before 28,406 fans.

The victory improved Yomiuri to 10-7, while the first-place Swallows fell to 12-5.