Hanshin lefty Atsushi Nomi went the distance and Kosuke Fukudome was 2-for-2 with four RBIs as the Tigers pounded the Yokohama BayStars 11-2 on Thursday and secured a berth in the Central League playoffs.

The second-place Tigers qualified for the Climax Series for the first time in two years and seventh time overall after downing the BayStars, who are in third place with no game difference over the fourth-place Yomiuri Giants, who were idle Thursday.

Hanshin will be able to secure a second-place finish in the league with a win or tie against Yokohama on Friday. The second-place ballclub hosts the third-place team in the best-of-three first stage of the playoffs to determine who will face league champion Hiroshima Carp in the final stage.