Yoshinori Murata drove in the winning run with a single to left in the top of the ninth Thursday as the last-place Yomiuri Giants downed the Softbank Hawks 5-4 to avoid a three-game sweep.
Orix Buffaloes starter Jose Parra delivers a pitch against the Yokohama BayStars en route to earning his fourth win of the season on Thursday at Osaka Dome. The Buffs won 6-1.
Murata's single gave the Giants a 3-2 lead at Yahoo Dome and Takayki Shimizu made it 5-2 with a bases-loaded single to center.