Kazuteru Shimada drove in two runs to spark a nine-run, eighth inning Wednesday as the Nippon Ham Fighters trounced the Pacific League-leading Daiei Hawks 12-6 at Tokyo Dome.
Yusuke Torigoe of the Daiei Hawks hit a bases-loaded single off Nippon Ham Fighters starter Shintaro Ejiri in the second inning.
The Hawks' magic number to clinch the league pennant remains unchanged at three after the second-place Seibu Lions fought to a tie with the Chiba Lotte Marines.