Atsushi Nomi pitched one-run ball over six innings before handing the game over to the bullpen as the Hanshin Tigers spoiled the Yomiuri Giants' shot at winning their fourth consecutive league championship in a 3-1 win on Wednesday.
Nomi (6-0) allowed six hits — all singles — struck out three and walked two. Kyuji Fujikawa worked the ninth for his 28th save. Dicky Gonzalez (5-13) was chased in 2 2/3 innings at Koshien Stadium.
Katsuhiko Saka had a tying RBI triple after a Kentaro Sekimoto leadoff single in the third, which also featured Matt Murton's sac fly and Takahiro Arai's RBI single.
The idle front-running Chunichi Dragons can clinch the league title as early as Friday, if Hanshin loses its next two games against the Yokohama BayStars and Hiroshima Carp, respectively.