The Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters moved within one win of capturing the Pacific League pennant after a 4-3 win over the Orix Buffaloes in the Pacific League on Monday night.

The win was coupled with a defeat for the second-placed Fukuoka Softbank Hawks, who lost 3-2 in 10 innings to the Chiba Lotte Marines in Chiba, meaning the Fighters can clinch the title on Tuesday if they beat the Seibu Lions.

The Fighters, who trailed SoftBank by 11½ games on June 24, are seeking their franchise's seventh PL pennant and their fifth since moving from Tokyo to Sapporo in 2004.