Alex Ramirez hammered a couple of homers, his 28th and 29th of the season, to highlight Yakult's 18-hit batting fiesta as the Swallows ended their regular season with a 10-8 win over the Hiroshima Carp at Jingu Stadium on Friday night.
The Yokohama BayStars, who have already completed their season, came in third in the Central League final standings thanks to Hiroshima's loss. Hiroshima has now finished fourth or lower in each of the last four seasons.
Shinya Miyamoto hit a bunt in the fourth inning for his 67th of the season to mark a new single-season bunting record in the Japanese professional league.