Yusuke Matsui started strong but saved the best for last on Tuesday, belting a two-run, 10th-inning home run to lift the Chunichi Dragons to a 3-1 victory over the Hiroshima Carp.

Matsui broke the ice with an RBI single and homered with one on and one out in the 10th off right-hander Ren Nakata (7-4). Lefty Hitoki Iwase retired one of the final two batters he faced in the 10th to record his 19th save of the season as the fourth-place Dragons moved to within 4½ games of first place and 1½ games behind the third-place Carp.

Anderson Hernandez, who like Matsui had two of Chunichi's six hits, got things started in the 10th with a one-out double. Matsui followed by slamming a 1-0 slider into Mazda Stadium's inviting left-field stands.