The Yomiuri Giants made sure the race for third place in the Central League remained as tight as ever.
They also ensured Munetaka Murakami remained stuck on 55 home runs for at least one more day as he chases the single-season record.
Gregory Polanco and Kazuma Okamoto homered as the Giants kept up the pressure on their rivals for third place with a 5-4 win over the league-leading Tokyo Yakult Swallows in the final regular-season game of the year at Tokyo Dome on Monday night.