Hirotoshi Kitagawa hit a tie-breaking RBI double for the go-ahead run and Fumitoshi Takano homered twice and went 4-for-5 Monday as the Osaka Kintetsu Buffaloes edged the Seibu Lions 6-5 at the Osaka Dome.
Central League
WonLostTiedPct.GBYomiuri 56 34 1 .622 -Yakult 44 42 2 .512 10.0Hanshin 45 43 2 .511 10.0Hiroshima 41 41 4 .500 11.0Chunichi 41 46 1 .471 13.5Yokohama 31 52 2 .373 21.5Pacific League
WonLostTiedPct.GBSeibu 54 33 1 .621 -Kintetsu 48 37 2 .565 5.0Daiei 43 43 1 .500 10.5Nippon Ham 42 45 1 .483 12.0Lotte 37 48 1 .435 16.0Orix 33 51 2 .393 19.5
WonLostTiedPct.GBYomiuri 56 34 1 .622 -Yakult 44 42 2 .512 10.0Hanshin 45 43 2 .511 10.0Hiroshima 41 41 4 .500 11.0Chunichi 41 46 1 .471 13.5Yokohama 31 52 2 .373 21.5Pacific League
WonLostTiedPct.GBSeibu 54 33 1 .621 -Kintetsu 48 37 2 .565 5.0Daiei 43 43 1 .500 10.5Nippon Ham 42 45 1 .483 12.0Lotte 37 48 1 .435 16.0Orix 33 51 2 .393 19.5
The front-running Lions tied the game 5-5 in the top of the seventh but Yuji Yoshioka doubled in the bottom half and Kitagawa followed with a timely hit for the go-ahead as the Buffaloes won their fourth in a row and moved within five games of the Pacific League leaders.