Hanshin hurler Shinji Taninaka tossed a seven-hitter over the distance while Osamu Hamanaka and Makoto Imaoka drove home two runs each as the Tigers blanked the Yakult Swallows 4-0 at Jingu Stadium on Wednesday.
Central League WonLostTiedPct.GB Yakult 74 55 5 .574 - Yomiuri 75 63 2 .543 3.5 Hiroshima 64 62 7 .508 8.5 Yokohama 64 65 4 .496 10.0 Chunichi 60 72 4 .455 15.5 Hanshin 57 77 2 .425 19.5 Pacific League WonLostTiedPct.GB *Kintetsu 78 59 2 .569 - Daiei 76 63 1 .547 3.0 Seibu 73 67 0 .521 6.5 Orix 69 66 4 .511 8.0 Lotte 64 74 2 .464 14.5 Nippon Ham 53 84 3 .387 25.0 (*clinched pennant)
It was the fourth straight loss for the Swallows, who need just one more win in their remaining six games to clinch their first Central League pennant in four years.