The Yomiuri Giants came to Yokohama Stadium this week to clinch the Central League pennant, but they went home empty-handed after the Yokohama DeNA BayStars completed a three-game sweep with a 5-2 win on Thursday.
Despite the loss, the Giants' magic number to clinch their second straight pennant dropped to one because of the Chunichi Dragons' loss to the Hanshin Tigers. The Giants can now clinch it at their home park, Tokyo Dome, where they open a three-game series against the Yakult Swallows starting Friday.
Kentaro Taira (4-5), who began his career as a Giant, surrendered a run on six hits and a walk over 5⅓ innings and got some big help from the bullpen to get away with the win.