Shuhei Fukuda hit his first career homer and singled in the go-ahead run as the Fukuoka Softbank Hawks rallied from a three-run deficit to beat the Seibu Lions 4-3 on Friday.
With the win, coupled with a loss by the second-place Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters, the Hawks reduced their magic number to one for clinching the Pacific League title.
Fukuda homered off veteran Fumiya Nishiguchi (9-7) to pull Softbank within 3-1 in the fifth, the Hawks' first hit of the night at Seibu Dome.