Kenji Johjima hit a two-run homer to highlight a five-run eighth inning as the Hanshin Tigers rallied past the Chunichi Dragons for a 5-1 victory on Thursday.
The Tigers chipped away at Kazuki Yoshimi (7-4), who had held batters to just three hits over seven shutout innings before the meltdown in the decisive frame at Koshien Stadium.
Hanshin strung together four consecutive hits with one out, including Matt Murton's tying single and Takahiro Arai's two-run single that made it 3-1. Johjima capped the inning with a blast over the left-field wall.