Tuffy Rhodes and Norihiro Nakamura hit back-to-back RBI singles for the go-ahead runs in the second inning and the Kintetsu Buffaloes added a run in the eighth as they beat the Seibu Lions 5-3 at the Osaka Dome on Saturday.
Central League
WonLostTiedPct.GBYomiuri 48 30 0 .615 -Yakult 39 35 1 .527 7.0Hiroshima 37 35 2 .514 8.0Hanshin 39 37 1 .513 8.0Chunichi 36 39 1 .480 10.5Yokohama 25 48 1 .342 20.5Pacific League
WonLostTiedPct.GBSeibu 47 26 1 .644 -Kintetsu 41 30 2 .577 5.0Daiei 38 34 1 .528 8.5Nippon Ham 35 38 1 .479 12.0Lotte 28 43 1 .394 18.0Orix 26 44 2 .371 19.5
WonLostTiedPct.GBYomiuri 48 30 0 .615 -Yakult 39 35 1 .527 7.0Hiroshima 37 35 2 .514 8.0Hanshin 39 37 1 .513 8.0Chunichi 36 39 1 .480 10.5Yokohama 25 48 1 .342 20.5Pacific League
WonLostTiedPct.GBSeibu 47 26 1 .644 -Kintetsu 41 30 2 .577 5.0Daiei 38 34 1 .528 8.5Nippon Ham 35 38 1 .479 12.0Lotte 28 43 1 .394 18.0Orix 26 44 2 .371 19.5
The Buffaloes won their third straight and are now in second place, five games behind the Pacific League-leading Lions.