July 19th Standridge v Alvarado - Standridge's complete game shutout

This time Mayumi got it right. Standridge pitched nine innings but with only 113 pitches thrown and a complete game shutout. He was superb and the key to his victory was his ability to throw not only his first pitch as a strike but frequently his second pitch as a strike as well meaning he never really got behind in the count. He gave up only two hits and no walks in his session. Carp's pitcher Alvarado was if anything better - giving up no hits at all and just one walk. He had to retire after this with shoulder trouble. Scores

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

Starting lineups

Carp
1. Higashide (Second)
2. Soyogi (Short)
3. Akamatsu (Centre)
4. Hirose (Right)
5. Iwamoto (First)
6. Amaya (Left)
7. Ishihara (Catcher)
8. Matsumoto (Third)
9. Alvarado (Pitcher)

Tigers
1. Toritani (Short)
2. Hirano (Second)
3. Murton (Right)
4. Arai (Third)
5. Brazell (First)
6. Kanemoto (Left)
7. Johjima (Catcher)
8. Asai (Centre)
9. Standridge (Pitcher)

Carp looked distinctly lacking in power without Kurihara. With one out in the first Soyogi hit to left. Akamatsu flew out but then Soyogi tried to steal second. Johjima's throw was good and the Carp short was tagged out comfortably. Tigers first was a 1-2-3 innings with no batters getting on base. In Carp's second Standridge struck out both Hirose and Amaya during his progress through the three batters. Alvarado struck out Brazell but was also untroubled in retiring the batters. Carp"s third was quiet as Brazell finished off the bottom of the order and then Alvarado returned the complement striking out all three batters he faced. This game was turning into a real pitching duel. It was the first time that Tigers had faced Alvarado and they didn't seem to know how to deal with him.

Carp's second hit came from Higashide who also hit to left. Soyogi bunted him to second and then he made third on Akamatsu's short ground out. This was the first scoring opportunity of the match but Standridge was equal to the threat getting Hirose to ground out to first to end the innings. Alvarado continued to dominate and once again Tigers batters fell in order - unable to cope with the unfamiliar pitcher. Carp's fifth saw Standridge strike out two more - Amaya and Ishihara and like the second a looking/swinging combination both times Amaya being the victim swining. Alvardo faced Arai to lead off the Tigers fifth and walked him in four - Tigers first base runner of the game. Here though he signaled the bench, he was having trouble with his right shoulder and needed to be replaced. Kishimoto took the mound and started by striking out Brazell. Next was Kanemoto who for the first time did something to justify his place at sixth. A straightball was clinically dispatched high into the right stand for a two run home run 2-0 Tigers. Johjima flew out but then Asai made second on a Carp error. Matsumoto took a ground out but his throw was way over Iwamoto at first. The ball was retrieved and thrown to Soyogi at second who missed the take and Asai was safe. Unfortunately, the final batter was Standridge who struck out looking. Carp's sixth was quiet as Standridge smoothly retired the batters in order. Ohshima pitched Tigers sixth and gave up a short hit to Hirano - Soyogi not having the chance to get the throw away in time. However, Tigers could not exploit this hit and the innings was scoreless.

Carp seventh and Standridge continued to dominate. He had the lead and he was pitching comfortably, in total control. After the fourth the Carp didn't get another base runner and the innings were a procession of outs. Tigers seventh was also quiet as they fell 1-2-3. Kanemoto was replaced by Shunsuke Fujikawa for Swallows eighth but the batters continued to fall and no runner got on base. Hayashi pitched Tigers eighth and gave up a two out hit to Toritani. Toritani then tried to steal second but was well out. So to Carp's ninth with Standridge facing the bottom of the batting order. Ordinarily, a two run lead would mean a Kyuji Fujikawa save opportunity but Mayumi was going to make sure that Standridge had his chance of the complete game shutout. It turned out to be just a formality such was Standridge's dominance. Matsumoto hit a straightforward ground out to second. Then Maeda (pinch hitter) grounded out to Standridge. Finally, Higashide flew out to left to end the game. Tigers victory.

This was Tigers third victory in a row and was based on Standridge's superb pitching. The Carp themselves had pitched well and it was only Kanemoto's hit that seperated the sides. Tigers though had kept control and not allowed the Carp to get into the game. The latter had only had one chance to score in the fourth and that had never really been more than a hope. The difference between Tigers and Giants remains at 0.5 games.

This is by far the fastest game I've ever been to. We were walking out of Koshien at 8:20! Feel bad for the sudden injury to the Carp pitcher in the middle of a no-hitter, but glad we got the win.
It's ironic that a couple weeks ago I went to Koshien and we all groaned when Standridge was announced as the starter. However, he has pitched 2 of the last 3 games I've been to and has been dominant.
By the way, any news on Nohmi? Would be great to have him back for the pennant race.

Current plans are for Nohmi to rejoin the first team mid-August. This though does depend on how well he has recovered.