Shuichi Murata hit a two-run homer and singled in the tie-breaking run on Wednesday as the Central League-leading Yomiuri Giants beat the second-place Hanshin Tigers 5-3.
With the game tied 3-3 in the fifth, Giants reliever Takahiro Aoki (5-0) inherited a two-on, two-out situation and retired Matt Murton with the bases loaded for the final out. The Giants took the lead in the bottom of the inning on Murata's single and an RBI ground out.
Scott Mathieson then bailed Aoki out of trouble in the sixth. With two out and two on, Mathieson hit the first batter he faced, but struck out Tsuyoshi Nishioka on nine pitches to end the Tigers' final threat of the game. After seven straight fastballs from the hard-throwing right-hander, Nishioka fouled off a forkball before swinging and missing at a slider.