The Hiroshima Carp moved to the brink of their first Central League pennant since 1991 with a 7-4 win over the Chunichi Dragons.
The Carp's fourth straight victory cut their magic number to clinch the pennant to one.
Before a record crowd of 32,546 at Mazda Stadium, Yusuke Nomura (14-3) allowed three runs in five innings on seven hits and a walk, while striking out two.