Kenshi Sugiya's ninth-inning, pinch-hit double lifted the Pacific League-leading Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters to a 7-6 walkoff victory on Wednesday over the Softbank Hawks.
The PL leaders overcame an early five-run deficit at Obihiro no Mori Stadium in Hokkaido, where they sent 10 men to the plate in a five-run third inning. Nippon Ham loaded the bases with no outs on two singles and a walk against Hawks starter Tadashi Settsu.
Five Fighters drove in a run apiece in the inning, with Atsunori Inaba becoming the 38th player in Japanese pro ball to drive in 1,000 runs when his single made it 3-0.