Kintetsu right-hander Jeremy Powell tossed a four-hitter as the power-laden Buffaloes went with pitching for their fourth straight win in a 1-0 decision Saturday over the Orix BlueWave at the Osaka Dome.
Central League
WonLostTiedPct.GBHanshin 30 18 1 .625 -Yomiuri 30 21 0 .588 1.5Yakult 25 23 0 .521 5.0Chunichi 23 23 1 .500 6.0Hiroshima 21 22 1 .488 6.5Yokohama 12 34 1 .261 17.0Pacific League
WonLostTiedPct.GBSeibu 29 17 1 .630 -Daiei 26 20 1 .565 3.0Kintetsu 26 20 1 .565 3.0Nippon Ham 26 24 0 .520 5.0Orix 18 29 0 .383 11.5Lotte 15 30 1 .333 13.5
WonLostTiedPct.GBHanshin 30 18 1 .625 -Yomiuri 30 21 0 .588 1.5Yakult 25 23 0 .521 5.0Chunichi 23 23 1 .500 6.0Hiroshima 21 22 1 .488 6.5Yokohama 12 34 1 .261 17.0Pacific League
WonLostTiedPct.GBSeibu 29 17 1 .630 -Daiei 26 20 1 .565 3.0Kintetsu 26 20 1 .565 3.0Nippon Ham 26 24 0 .520 5.0Orix 18 29 0 .383 11.5Lotte 15 30 1 .333 13.5
Powell (5-3) scattered four hits and a walk over the distance for his first shutout since arriving in Japan 15 months ago as the Buffaloes kept pace in the Pacific League standings -- three games behind the front-running Seibu Lions.