Neftali Soto homered twice and drove in five runs, propelling the Yokohama BayStars to a 7-5 come-from-behind victory over the Central League pennant-chasing Hiroshima Carp on Monday.
Soto's three-run homer capped a four-run third inning off Carp starter Kris Johnson (10-5) and gave the visitors a 4-2 lead at rainy Mazda Stadium. Soto, who didn't make his first-team debut for the BayStars until May 6, broke the game open in the seventh with his 35th homer, a two-run shot off Makoto Aduwa.
Entering the day with a magic number of one to clinch their third straight pennant, the Carp needed to win at home or hope the Chunichi Dragons could knock off the second-place Yakult Swallows at Nagoya Dome.