September 6th Shimoyanagi v Imai - Kanemura's first Central League win

Kanemura finally picked up a win for Tigers but not as a starter. Still it was welcome and given how he is pitching in relief he has become a useful addition to the team. The big surprise was Mayumi's precipitate removal of Shimoyanagi from the mound. He lasted only one and two thirds innings before being replaced. This actually worked very well and Tigers relief held on to work the victory. Removing Shimoyanagi was a bold move and one that Mayumi should be congratulated for. Atchison returned to form and was assured over his two innings. News on Brazell is that he aggravated an old knee injury but should be recovered quickly. Tigers now do have a real chance to take third place and participate in the Climax Series. Importantly they saw off the Carp challenge and as Swallows cannot generate any wins are closing in on the latter. The gap is 2.5 games now. Scores

        1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Tigers  0 0 0 0 0 3 1 0 0 4 9 0
Carp    0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 8 0

Starting lineups

Tigers
1. Akahoshi (Centre)
2. Hirano (Second)
3. Toritani (Short)
4. Kanemoto (Left)
5. Arai (Third)
6. Katsuragi (First)
7. Asai (Right)
8. Yano (Catcher)
9. Shimoyanagi (Pitcher)

Carp
1. Higashide (Second)
2. Kokubo (Short)
3. Phillips (Left)
4. Kurihara (First)
5. McClain (Third)
6. Hirose (Right)
7. Akamatsu (Centre)
8. Kura (Catcher)
9. Imai (Pitcher)

Tigers would start well and then go quiet. Akahoshi hit and tried to steal second but was thrown out. Hirano walked and Toritani hit to set up runners on first and second. The situation was promising. Kanemoto flew out but Hirano tagged up and moved to third and all that it needed was for Arai to drive in the runner. He didn't do it this innings and grounded out to short to end the innings. Shimoyanagi also started poorly and only just managed to survive the first innings. He got the first two outs but then lost control and gave up a hit to Phillips. Then walks to Kurihara and McClain followed and the bases were loaded. Hirose flew out to centre to get Shimoyanagi out of the jam but it was not an encouraging innings. Tigers second was quiet as Imai struck out all three batters he faced in a row. That was good pitching. Shimoyanagi's second was more of the same as the first. He started with a lead off walk to Akamatsu. Kura hit to set up runners on first and third with no outs but Imai struck out. Here Higashide hit a deep sacrifice fly 1-0 Carp, runner on second. Then Kokubo hit to set up runners on first and third again. Here Mayumi decided that he had had enough. Kubo (coach) went out to talk to Shimoyanagi and break the news to him and he was replaced by Sajikihara. Sajikihara got the final out of the innings striking out Phillips. Imai dead balled Akahoshi in Tigers third but no one converted him and the innings was scoreless. Kurihara led off Carp's third with a hit and then tried to steal second. This was suicidal as there is no way he has the speed and the Tigers weren't half asleep. He was out of course. Hirose hit to centre with two out but Sajikihara ended the innings with a strike out.

Tigers fourth was quiet with the batters falling in order. In Carp's fourth Kura started with a hit and was bunted to second by Imai. He made third on Higashide's ground out but then Sajikihara struck out Kokubo to end the innings. Tigers fifth saw Arai walk and make second on a ground out but this was as far as he got. Kanemura replaced Sajikihara for Carp's fifth. Sajikihara had come in at a difficult time and pitched quite well draining Carp's momentum at a vital moment. Kanemura started nicely with two strike outs and then McClain managed a hit to Kanemura who couldn't make the throw in time. Hirose hit to set up runners on first and second but then Akamatsu flew out to second and the innings was over. Imai returned for Tigers sixth and here things fell apart for the Carp. He started by giving up a hit to Hirano. Then Toritani hit to left and Tigers had runners on first and second. Kanemoto lined out to first but Toritani was safe so no double play ensued. Arai followed and hit along the third baseline nicely into the corner. Both runners were home 2-1 Tigers, runner on third. That was it for Imai who hadn't pitched badly but in such a vital match could not be allowed to do any more damage. Unfortunately, for Carp his replacement, Komatsu would do more damage. He faced Katsuragi whom he struck out and this brought up Asai. He hit to centre driving in Arai 3-1 Tigers runner on first. Yano hit but Hiyama grounded out to end the innings. Tigers though had turned the match round and had a nice two run cushion as well. Mayumi chose Atchison for Carp's sixth and he was much better retiring the three batters he faced without too much trouble.

Yokoyama pitched Tigers seventh and was immediatley in a mess. Part of the problem for the Carp is that their pitchers don't seem to be able to perform consistently. In one game they will be good but then the next game they will be poor. This is what happened to Yokoyama. He immediately gave up a two base hit to Akahoshi. Hirano then bunted Akahoshi to third and Toritani supplied the sacrifice fly 4-1 Tigers. Kanemoto walked but then Arai grounded out to end the innings. Atchison pitched the Carp and was in control that innings as well retiring the batters in order again. Tigers eighth was pitched by Hayashi. He walked Katsuragi but then Yano hit to put runners on first and second. Sekimoto (pinch hitter) flew out but a wild pitch took Katsuragi to third. Akahoshi though lined out to second to end the innings. For Carp's eighth Mayumi picked Fujikawa who is pitching a lot of innings a the moment but this was justified. He was assured, only really having bother with Phillips who needed a full count before flying out to centre but still retiring the batters in order. Schultz pitched Tigers ninth and retired the batters in order. Having disposed of Carp's clean up in the eighth, Fujikawa returned to deal with the middle of the order in their ninth. Once again it was 1-2-3, this time taking only 7 pitches. Tigers victory.

A vital and very good victory for the Tigers. They had fought off a strong challenge by the Carp and had restored a two games difference between the sides. Fujikawa picked up his 19th save and like all the reilef had pitched well. One doesn't know what to say about Mayumi though - he is capable of decisions of incredible stupidity but then comes up with something of incredible brilliance like removing his starter with only one run given up. Admittedly, it was clear that Shimoyangi was struggling but how many coaches would have taken that course? One would like to say that he is learning as the side have been playing better since the All Star break. One thing we can be certain of - if he delivers a third place he will be asked back next year. I can't say I'm enthused about that prospect, he is still too much of an unknown quantity but I do wish he would revamp the starting lineup.

Ouch, this hurts:

http://www.japanball.com/news.phtml?id=15388

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A long absence would not be helpful as Brazell has been filling the gap left by Kanemoto. He was able to walk though and this is in itself encouraging. One hopes that he will be able to return soon.