Shuichi Murata hit a three-run homer with no outs in the top of the ninth inning off Kyuji Fujikawa, lifting the Yokohama BayStars to a come-from-behind 4-3 victory over the Hanshin Tigers on Thursday.
The second-place Tigers' loss left the front-running Chunichi Dragons with a magic number of one to clinch the Central League pennant.
Murata sent his second home run of the night to left field after Fujikawa (3-4) walked the first two batters in the ninth at Koshien Stadium.
Craig Brazell's RBI single put Hanshin ahead 2-1 in the fourth and Takashi Toritani added a sacrifice fly in the fifth.
Shigeki Ushida (2-1) picked up the win with a scoreless eighth. Shun Yamaguchi escaped a two-out, two-on jam in the ninth for his 29th save.
Tigers starter Yasutomo Kubo pitched eight innings of one-run ball.
After the game, a retirement ceremony was held for Hanshin catcher Akihiro Yano.
The Dragons, meanwhile, have one game left to play — against the Tokyo Yakult Swallows on Saturday.
Carp 1, Swallows 0
At Hiroshima's Mazda Stadium, Kenta Maeda pitched his second shutout of the season as Hiroshima edged Tokyo Yakult.
Maeda (15-7) extended his CL lead in wins after scattering six hits, all singles, and striking out four with a walk. Yoshiyuki Ishihara singled in the game's only run in the second.
Shohei Tateyama (11-7) allowed one run in six innings. With the Swallows' loss, the third-place Yomiuri Giants earned a Climax Series berth for the fourth straight year.
PACIFIC LEAGUE
Buffaloes at Marines — ppd.
