The Hiroshima Carp will have to wait another day to clinch their second straight Central League pennant after blowing a three-run lead in a 5-4 loss to the Tokyo Yakult Swallows on Saturday afternoon.
The Carp, the NPB's best pinch-hitting team this season, got a taste of their own medicine in the seventh inning, when Shoitsu Omatsu came off the bench to deliver a two-out, two-run, game-tying single before 32,336 fans at Mazda Stadium.
The hit marked the end for Carp starter Kazuki Yabuta, who allowed four runs on seven hits and two walks, while striking out three in 6-2/3 innings.