The Chunichi Dragons leapfroged over the Yomiuri Giants by percentage points behind Hirokazu Ibata’s 3 RBI in last night’s 7-5 win.

Closer Hitoki Iwase gave up a home run to Shinnosuke Abe, but was able to close the door for his 41st save on the year. 

The home run was Abe’s 32nd, leaving him two behind former Expos farmhand Tyrone Woods for the league lead.  

CENTRAL W L T Pct GB
Dragons 74 59 2 0.556 -
Giants 77 62 1 0.554 0
Tigers 71 61 4 0.538 2.5
BayStars 63 67 1 0.485 9.5
Swallows 55 76 0 0.42 18
Carp 55 78 2 0.414 19

With seven games left to play and a 2 1/2 game lead the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters played to a 4-4 tie with the Soft Bank Hawks. 

While both teams have already clinched playoff spots both are angling for all-important seeding positions as the regular season winds down. Hawks closer Takahiro Mahara threw four shutout innings and pinch-runner Toshimasa Konta was thrown out at the plate in the 12th and final inning.

Mahara hadn’t worked more than two innings in a single game all season. 

PACIFIC W L T Pct GB
Fighters 74 58 5 0.561 -
Hawks 71 60 5 0.542 2.5
Marines 68 60 7 0.531 4
Lions 64 70 2 0.478 11
Eagles 63 71 2 0.47 12
Buffaloes 60 73 5 0.451 14.5

This article outlines the Ham Fighters success despite having one of the worst offenses in the league.