Sho Nakata hit a two-run homer and Haruki Nishikawa drove in two runs to help Hokkaido Nippon Ham beat Fukuoka SoftBank 5-2 on Thursday to remain in first place in the Pacific League.
The Fighters, who defeated the Hawks on Wednesday to overtake them in the league standings, saw their magic number to win the PL pennant lit at six as they won their fifth straight game.
SoftBank's Akira Nakamura opened the scoring with a solo shot in the first inning at Yafuoku Dome, but Nishikawa's two-run single with two outs and the bases loaded in the second put Nippon Ham ahead 2-1.