Maximo Nelson threw eight-plus shutout innings Wednesday before an implosion of the bullpen, but the Chunichi Dragons beat the Tokyo Yakult Swallows 4-3 to have a magic number of four to clinch the Central League title appear for the first time.
Nelson (10-14) lit up the scoreboard with zeroes, allowing just three hits — all singles — with five strikeouts before issuing a leadoff walk in the ninth for his first free pass at Nagoya Dome.
With a 4-0 lead, Chunichi manager Hiromitsu Ochiai then inexplicably went to his bullpen which proceeded to give up three runs before Takuya Asao escaped a two-on jam to end it.