Lions ace Takayuki Kishi prevented the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters from walking over Seibu to the Pacific League pennant in a 3-0 win on Tuesday evening.
Before 27,158 at Seibu Prince Dome in Saitama Prefecture, Kishi (9-7) allowed four hits over seven innings, striking out seven, five looking, while walking one. The right-hander was given a two-run lead to work with after retiring the would-be champs in order in the top of the first.
"I'd watched the Fighters games recently and I didn't have a clear image of how I would get them out, but things worked out well," Kishi said.