Tigers v Dragons - Cheng's debut

This practice game (17th March) was a tie 3-3. Mayumi tried Abe as a starter. He pitched five innings and gave up three runs in the second. Apart from that he was in control. It also saw Cheng pitch for the first time in Tigers colours and he was secure in his one innings. The other pitchers were Egusa and Ishikawa both of whom were also secure

Dragons who had amassed a three run lead in the second never threatened again. In the bottom of the same innings Tigers immediatley set about trimming the lead, Hiyama led off with a home run. Fujimoto drove in a run in the fifth and then another one in the seventh. That was the end of the scoring.