Watcing the highlights of a Rakuten Softbank game I saw an interesting development. With the scores tied and a runner on third the batter hit a shallow sacrifice fly. The runner tagged up and charged the catcher who had the ball but didn't make the tag. The catcher was bundled out of the way and the runner tagged home to be ruled safe. But I had the ball protested the catcher - it doesn't matter, you didn't apply the tag was the answer and a rather nice development I thought. Let's see more umpires do this. The interesting news is that Kanemoto sought the advice of Ochiai about his hitting (thanks Gen). One rather thinks that he doesn't quite trust the Wada regime. Still the answer is rather clear - drop him down the order. Kanemoto is no longer a No. 4 batter. Tigers now have three wins in a row and even though these are all against lesser teams it is a satisfying feeling. Wada felt the need to overpitch Nohmi this game and you just wonder at the continued idiocy that our managers display. There was no need to ask for an eighth innings from Nohmi especially with the lamentable Fujii calling.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Tigers 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 7 0
BayStars 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 6 0
Starting lineups
Tigers
1. Toritani (Short)
2. Hirano (Second)
3. Murton (Right)
4. Kanemoto (Left)
5. Arai (Third)
6. Brazell (First)
7. Asai (Centre)
8. Fujii (Catcher)
9. Nohmi (Pitcher)
BayStars
1. Aranami (Centre)
2. Salazar (Second)
3. Tsutsugoh (Third)
4. Ramirez (Left)
5. Nakamura (First)
6. Yoshimura (Right)
7. Kajitani (Short)
8. Kurobane (Catcher)
9. Takasaki (Pitcher)
Tigers would instantly get a chance with a lead off single from Toritani. He was bunted to second by Hirano and the chance evaporated. Murton grounded out to third - no movement round and then Kanemoto struck out swinging. Nohmi started well retiring the BayStars in order and striking out two looking though to be honest the plate umpire wasn't particularly good and had a strange idea of what a strike zone was. Arai proved the catalyst for Tigers second. He led off with a nice two base hit to left. Brazell flew out but Asai hit into centre to bring the run in. 1-0 Tigers runner on first. A few years ago Asai was brought into the side late in the season and batted like he was turbocharged before pulling a leg muscle and having to retire. He didn't really show that previous form until now. Fujii grounded out to second which did take Asai to second base but with Nohmi next one didn't hope for anything. However, Nohmi suprised us all by hitting left and bringing in the run 2-0 Tigers, runner on first. Next was Toritani and he did as he should blasting the ball right for a two base hit 3-0 Tigers and runner on second. Finally, Hirano flew out to end the innings. BayStars second saw Ramirez hit back to Nohmi for the out and then Nakamura singled to centre. He was forced out by Yoshimura and then Kajitani grounded out. Tigers third was quiet with Arai being the final batter. He hit hard to left centre where Aranami sprinted round and dived to take a finely judged catch to end the innings in what had to be the play of the night. BayStars third stated quietly and two outs went down before Aranami came to the plate. He was fired up from his catch but also recieved a nice fat sitter which Nohmi had tossed in response to a terrible call by Fujii. Aranami hit nicely to right centre (and it really was a well judged shot) and tore round the bases to reach third. Salazar then worked the count full and walked - the calling was particularly inept - and BayStars had runners on first and third. After the Salazar walk Fujii got up and started to approach the mound but was frozen in his tracks by a imperious gesture from Nohmi. He did not want to be distracted by his catcher. Tsutsugoh was the next batter and he was induced to ground out to third to end the innings.
Tigers fourth saw a single from Brazell. This time he was forced out by Asai who then succumbed to a Fujii double play. BayStars fourth was quiet with the batters falling in order. Takasaki was by now pitching pretty comfortably and the Tigers batters weren't finding it easy at all. In the fifth the only batter to work things was Hirano but he was the third out flying out to left. Kajitani led off BayStars sixth with a single and immediately fell to a Kurobane double play. Then Takasaki grounded out to end the innings. Tigers sixth was quiet with no one getting on base. Aranami led off BayStars sixth with a single. He stayed on first with the batters falling in order after him.
So to Tigers seventh which saw nothing of interest. Takasaki pitched well and the batters didn't trouble anyone. BayStars seventh was similar and Tigers maintained a comfortable three run lead. Here Nohmi should have been retired - he had pitched well and had maintained a comfortable lead. However, with Fujii he had thrown more pitches than necessary for a complete game and shouldn't have continued into the eighth. He faced Kinjoh (pinch hitter) who hit a two base to left centre. Koike (pinch hitter) flew out but Aranami hit a two base to left to bring in the runner 3-1 Tigers. Salazar flew out and then Wada brought on Enokida. He struck out Tsutsugoh to end the innings. Hayashi pitched Tigers ninth and with one out gave up a two base hit to Kanemoto. Arai was deliberately walked and then Brazell hit into a double play to end the innings. Kyuji of course pitched BayStars ninth and he retired the batters in order ending with a strike out looking of Shimozono (pinch hitter). This looked distinctly dubious but never mind we'll take it. Tigers victory.
Tigers had actually started a series against the BayStars really nicely. Nohmi picked up his third win and the save was Kyuji's ninth. All in all very satisfactory - Fujii's incompetence was not allowed to affect the game but really Kanemoto batting fourth is still too much.
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Starting lineups
Tigers
1. Toritani (Short)
2. Hirano (Second)
3. Murton (Right)
4. Kanemoto (Left)
5. Arai (Third)
6. Brazell (First)
7. Asai (Centre)
8. Fujii (Catcher)
9. Nohmi (Pitcher)
BayStars
1. Aranami (Centre)
2. Salazar (Second)
3. Tsutsugoh (Third)
4. Ramirez (Left)
5. Nakamura (First)
6. Yoshimura (Right)
7. Kajitani (Short)
8. Kurobane (Catcher)
9. Takasaki (Pitcher)
Tigers would instantly get a chance with a lead off single from Toritani. He was bunted to second by Hirano and the chance evaporated. Murton grounded out to third - no movement round and then Kanemoto struck out swinging. Nohmi started well retiring the BayStars in order and striking out two looking though to be honest the plate umpire wasn't particularly good and had a strange idea of what a strike zone was. Arai proved the catalyst for Tigers second. He led off with a nice two base hit to left. Brazell flew out but Asai hit into centre to bring the run in. 1-0 Tigers runner on first. A few years ago Asai was brought into the side late in the season and batted like he was turbocharged before pulling a leg muscle and having to retire. He didn't really show that previous form until now. Fujii grounded out to second which did take Asai to second base but with Nohmi next one didn't hope for anything. However, Nohmi suprised us all by hitting left and bringing in the run 2-0 Tigers, runner on first. Next was Toritani and he did as he should blasting the ball right for a two base hit 3-0 Tigers and runner on second. Finally, Hirano flew out to end the innings. BayStars second saw Ramirez hit back to Nohmi for the out and then Nakamura singled to centre. He was forced out by Yoshimura and then Kajitani grounded out. Tigers third was quiet with Arai being the final batter. He hit hard to left centre where Aranami sprinted round and dived to take a finely judged catch to end the innings in what had to be the play of the night. BayStars third stated quietly and two outs went down before Aranami came to the plate. He was fired up from his catch but also recieved a nice fat sitter which Nohmi had tossed in response to a terrible call by Fujii. Aranami hit nicely to right centre (and it really was a well judged shot) and tore round the bases to reach third. Salazar then worked the count full and walked - the calling was particularly inept - and BayStars had runners on first and third. After the Salazar walk Fujii got up and started to approach the mound but was frozen in his tracks by a imperious gesture from Nohmi. He did not want to be distracted by his catcher. Tsutsugoh was the next batter and he was induced to ground out to third to end the innings.
Tigers fourth saw a single from Brazell. This time he was forced out by Asai who then succumbed to a Fujii double play. BayStars fourth was quiet with the batters falling in order. Takasaki was by now pitching pretty comfortably and the Tigers batters weren't finding it easy at all. In the fifth the only batter to work things was Hirano but he was the third out flying out to left. Kajitani led off BayStars sixth with a single and immediately fell to a Kurobane double play. Then Takasaki grounded out to end the innings. Tigers sixth was quiet with no one getting on base. Aranami led off BayStars sixth with a single. He stayed on first with the batters falling in order after him.
So to Tigers seventh which saw nothing of interest. Takasaki pitched well and the batters didn't trouble anyone. BayStars seventh was similar and Tigers maintained a comfortable three run lead. Here Nohmi should have been retired - he had pitched well and had maintained a comfortable lead. However, with Fujii he had thrown more pitches than necessary for a complete game and shouldn't have continued into the eighth. He faced Kinjoh (pinch hitter) who hit a two base to left centre. Koike (pinch hitter) flew out but Aranami hit a two base to left to bring in the runner 3-1 Tigers. Salazar flew out and then Wada brought on Enokida. He struck out Tsutsugoh to end the innings. Hayashi pitched Tigers ninth and with one out gave up a two base hit to Kanemoto. Arai was deliberately walked and then Brazell hit into a double play to end the innings. Kyuji of course pitched BayStars ninth and he retired the batters in order ending with a strike out looking of Shimozono (pinch hitter). This looked distinctly dubious but never mind we'll take it. Tigers victory.
Tigers had actually started a series against the BayStars really nicely. Nohmi picked up his third win and the save was Kyuji's ninth. All in all very satisfactory - Fujii's incompetence was not allowed to affect the game but really Kanemoto batting fourth is still too much.