Ryo Yoshimoto delivered a tiebreaking two-run double in the eighth inning as the Yakult Swallows rallied over the Yomiuri Giants 5-3 to win their sixth in a row as the Central League wrapped up the regular season on Monday.
Pinch-hitter Noriyuki Shiroishi — playing in the final game of his career — sparked the rally with a one-out double to left-center followed by pinch-hitter Atsushi Kinugawa's single and Yoshimoto's double with two outs off Daisuke Ochi (8-3) at Jingu Stadium.
Hiromitsu Takagi (4-0) won in relief. Yomiuri starter Tetsuya Utsumi failed in his bid to notch double-digit wins for the fourth consecutive year. CL champion Yomiuri fell one win short of its 90th victory of the season.