YOKOHAMA – Tony Blanco’s pinch-hit solo homer in the bottom of the ninth inning on Monday lifted the Yokohama BayStars to a 4-3 walk-off win over the Chunichi Dragons.

Moments after the Dragons’ Takahito Kudo tied the game in the top of the ninth off rookie closer Tomoya Mikami before 28,597 at Yokohama Stadium, Blanco went deep with one out off rookie Daisuke Sobue (0-3) to lift the BayStars to their second straight victory. Mikami (1-3) collected the win.

Yokohama started the day in fourth place, 4½ games behind the Hanshin Tigers, who currently occupy third place and the Central League’s final playoff spot.

BayStars leadoff man Takayuki Kajitani drove in two early runs for the hosts, while Yulieski Gurriel added an RBI double in the sixth.

Carp 4, Giants 0

Tigers 5, Swallows 3

PACIFIC LEAGUE

Marines 8, Hawks 1

At Fukuoka’s Yafuoku Dome, Lotte’s Hideaki Wakui (7-11) allowed a run in six-plus innings and Alfredo Despaigne broke a one-run game open in the sixth with a two-run home run off Jason Standridge (10-7) as league-leading Softbank lost for the second straight game.

Fighters 5, Buffaloes 0

At Sapporo Dome, Juan Miranda hit a three-run, first-inning homer off Orix rookie Kazumasa Yoshida (5-5) and Hokkaido Nippon Ham rookie Naoyuki Uwasawa (8-8) threw a three-hitter in his first career shutout.

Lions 9, Eagles 1

At Seibu Dome, Takayuki Kishi (12-4) allowed a run in eight innings, rookie Hotaka Yamakawa broke the ice with his first home run in the second inning, and Shogo Akiyama singled in the first of his three RBIs in the third as Seibu crushed Tohoku Rakuten.