Makoto Imaoka hit a game-winning pinch-hit single in the bottom of the 11th inning Sunday as the Hanshin Tigers edged the Seibu Lions 5-4 to regain the Central League lead.
Chunichi's Hirokazu Ibata lays down a bunt to drive home Yoshinori Ueda in the sixth inning against the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters at Nagoya Dome on Sunday. The Fighters beat the Dragons 2-1.
The struggling Imaoka, batting just .220 in 45 games this season, lined a 0-1 pitch from closer Chikara Onodera (1-1) to right field with one out and runners on first and second in interleague action at Koshien Stadium.
Seibu rallied from a 3-0 deficit and went ahead 4-3 in the fifth on a two-run homer by Hiroshi Hirao.