Brandon Laird's three-run homer capped a seven-run sixth inning as the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters came-from-behind to beat the Seibu Lions 9-7 on Sunday and clinch second place in the Pacific League.
Ginjiro Sumitani homered and singled to drive in four early runs to help stake Lions ace Takayuki Kishi to a 5-0 lead, but the right-hander surrendered a pair of no-out singles and a pair of one-out walks that put the Fighters on the board in the sixth.
Sho Nakata's two-run single chased Kishi. Lefty Shota Takekuma (6-1) gave up an RBI single to the only batter he faced. Yosuke Okamoto entered and surrendered Laird's 31st home run of the season.