Pedro Valdes went 2-for-3 with a three-run homer as the Pacific League-leading Fukuoka Daiei Hawks overpowered the last place Orix BlueWave 9-4 on Monday, reducing their "magic number" for clinching the pennant to 29.
Valdes connected on Hidetaka Kawagoe's first pitch into the right-field stands in the fifth inning, his first homer in 15 games.
Daiei starter Toshiya Sugiuchi (6-7) scattered three hits and two walks in five innings while striking out six to notch his third straight win.
Nobuhiko Matsunaka went deep in the third for his 20th homer of the season, and Valdes' three-run shot put Daiei ahead at 7-2.