KYODO NEWS - Sep 14, 2017 - 22:41 | Sports, All

Xavier Batista hit a bases-loaded RBI sacrifice fly in the eighth inning to lift the Hiroshima Carp 5-4 over the DeNA BayStars in a seesaw game Thursday, shedding their magic number to claim their second straight Central League pennant to one.

Hiroshima got on the scoreboard first in the second inning when cleanup hitter Ryuhei Matsuyama struck a solo shot and Batista followed up with an RBI single one out later before 32,324 at Mazda Stadium.

The BayStars, in fourth place and seeking to make it into the Climax Series playoffs by finishing in the top three, retaliated an inning later with a game-tying two-run double by Jose Lopez and an RBI sacrifice fly by Toshiro Miyazaki.

The CL defending champion got even in the bottom frame as Matsuyama drove in his second run and Batista put the home team ahead again with a solo shot in the fourth.

Three innings later, BayStar Tatsuhiro Shibata made it 4-all with a one-out sacrifice fly after Toshihiko Kuramoto led off the seventh with a triple.

DeNA could not capitalize on a no-out bases-loaded situation in the eighth, as second reliever Takeru Imamura (2-4) pitched out of the jam with a groundout, strikeout and a lineout and went on to pick up the win.

After the game, Carp players and spectators remained in the stadium and watched on the giant monitor how the game between the Tigers and the Yomiuri Giants played out as second-place Hanshin's defeat would have ensured Hiroshima's pennant.

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Tigers 2, Giants 2, 12 innings

At Koshien Stadium, Hanshin took an early lead as rookie Yusuke Oyama drove in two runs in the first, but Yomiuri's Yang Dai-kang hit an RBI single in the eighth and Hisayoshi Chono drove home a run in the next inning before the game ended in a draw.

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Dragons 2, Swallows 1, 10 innings

At Jingu Stadium, Chunichi squeaked past Yakult after scoring during Swallows closer Ryo Akiyoshi's wild pitch at one out and runners on second and third base in the top of the 10th.

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Pacific League

Hawks 7, Buffaloes 4

At Yafuoku Dome, Alfredo Despaigne went 2-for-3 with four RBIs, including a PL-high 32nd homer, to power league-leading SoftBank past Orix, reducing the magic number to clinch the pennant to one. Closer Dennis Sarfate pitched a 1-2-3 ninth for his 51st save.

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Lions 2, Eagles 1

At Kobo Park Miyagi, Yusei Kikuchi (15-6) struck out 11 while giving up one unearned run on four hits and two walks over eight innings and Hideto Asamura broke a 1-1 tie with an RBI single in the sixth as Seibu edged Rakuten to claim its third straight win.

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Marines 6, Fighters 4

At Sapporo Dome, Shohei Kato belted a three-run homer with two outs in the top of the ninth as Lotte came from behind to beat Nippon Ham.