June 11th Iwata v Yamada - Hosokawa reverses himself

Hawks catcher after winning the game the day before proceeded to mess up and gift Tigers the victory in this game. This actually meant that Tigers won the series against the Hawks 2-1-1. The match was dominated by the pitchers ably called to by both catchers. Hits were rare and Iwata was superb. Komiyama shone but Wada's replacement of him in the eighth was another act of folly. Okazaki was extremely poor in the ninth with Fujikawa and it was only the Tigers closer's excellence that ensured victory. Murton was once again held out of the starting lineup and Tigers players rallied around in a damage limitation exercise. We also saw more of Kanemoto's developing weakness in left field which makes one question how long? Scores

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

Starting lineups

Hawks
1. Honda (Second)
2. Imamiya (Short)
3. Uchikawa (Third)
4. Cabrera (First)
5. Matsuda (Third)
6. Pena (Left)
7. Hasegawa (Centre)
8. Hosokawa (Catcher)
9. Yamada (Pitcher)

Tigers
1. Hirano (Second)
2. Yamato (Centre)
3. Toritani (Short)
4. Kanemoto (Left)
5. Takahiro Arai (Third0
6. Brazell (First)
7. Ryota Arai (Right)
8. Komiyama (Catcher)
9. Iwata (Pitcher0

It was good to see Yamato back in the lineup though he didn't get any chance to show his batting skills. This game was dominated by the pitchers and catchers, both pairs putting in superb performances. Iwata started well retiring the Hawks batters in order and striking out the ineffective Imamiya. Tigers first was just as quiet - the batters just as clueless and no one getting on base. Things changed slightly in Hawks second. With Cabrera gone Matsuda swung at an inside pitch and lifted it high and deep to left. Kanemoto went back but was too slow and lazy and missed the take as the ball came down right on the fence. The ball had just missed going over for a home run but Matsuda was able to take third safely. This was a similar situation to Sunday's game - a runner on third and batters in hand. Previously Pena had driven in the run but this time he hit to Arai. Arai paused to lock Matsuda on base and then threw to first for the second out. Iwata then struck out Hasegawa looking with an excellent inside pitch to end the innings and get Tigers out of danger. Tigers second started inauspiciously with Kanemoto striking out looking. Then Arai flew out to left with Pena almost dropping what was a simple take. Finally Brazell struck out swinging. Hosokawa and Yamada struck out in Hawks third and then Honda singled left. He stole second. The throw from Komiyama was excellent and on target but Toritani dropped the ball and was unable to make the tag. It didn't help Hawks as Imamiya struck out to end the innings. Tigers third saw their first hit - a two base by Ryota Arai which landed over the slow moving Pena at left. Here Wada made a mess of things. He had Komiyama bunt Ryota Arai to third. Just think - you have your last recognised batter bunt so that your pitcher can drive in the run. It defies belief. Iwata then grounded out to Yamada who locked the runner on third and threw to first for the second out. It was obvious that Tigers wouldn't score and so they didn't with the final batter, Hirano flying out to left where this time Pena was secure under the catch.

Hawks fourth saw some superb pitching and calling and was all over in seven pitches. In fact the Hawks would not generate another hit until the eighth. Yamato and Toritani both struck out in Tigers fourth, Yamato to an outside pitch and Toritani to a superb inside pitch. Then Kanemoto took his usual mistimed swing, connected and this time launched the ball a bit further than usual. It stayed up a long time but landed in the no mans land between centre and second for a single. Arai was next and he hit along the third baseline but only found a perfectly positioned Matsuda who threw to first to complete the out. Hawks lasted a bit longer in the fifth but the end result was the same, three batters out, no base runners. Tigers fifth was similar, nothing the batters did seemed able to change things and they all floundered around. Hawks sixth was another quiet innings with Honda being fooled by an outrageous curve and striking out looking. With two out in Tigers sixth, Yamato bounced one infield to Cabrera who fielded and threw to Yamada for the ground out. Yamada though was a bit slow on base and Yamato was judged to be safe. With Toritani at the plate Yamato tried to steal second. The throw from Hosokawa was good and this time Yamato was ruled out though it was very tight. Anyway it ended Tigers sixth.

The Hawks seventh saw the batters still unable to figure the Iwata/Komiyama combination. Matsuda in particular was lured into swinging too far at a superb ball which had him fooled. Unfortunately, Tigers batters were also unable to figure the Yamada/Hosokawa combination and the three went down in order. Both pitchers were lookng at possible complete game shutouts and both had gas in the tank having not being overpitched. Thus Iwata returned for Hawks eighth and got Pena to ground out first ball. Hasegawa then proved difficult and with the count full singled to left. Hosokawa tried to hit his second pitch and popped it up to a well positioned Ryota Arai who was much better this game than on Sunday. Finally, Yamada struck out swinging. Now it was Yamada's turn and he faced Brazell. Brazell swung at his first pitch and got a good contact which just stayed inside the right foul line. He turned the hit into a two base and was pinch run for by Tagami. Here Wada then messed up. Ryota took two balls and a hit might have been on but Wada had him bunt Tagami to third. This was a waste of an out and the wrong option. Next was Sekimoto (pinch hitter) and one questions the use of him in this situation. However, it turned out to be academic. Sekimoto didn't look like he was going to hit but Hosokawa was looking for the runner being off base. Tagami had strayed a bit far and Hosokawa fired the ball towards third. Tagami turned to tag base and the ball bounced off him into foul ground. Tagami tagged and got tangled up with Matsuda but was able to get up and make home 1-0 Tigers. A big and crucial mistake by Hosokawa. Sekimoto then flew out to right and then Murton (pinch hitter) flew out to centre. Of course Fujikawa took over for Hawks ninth. He pitched to Okazaki who was mediocrity personified. His calling was really inept and wooden and it was only Fujikawa's quality that ensured the victory. Firstly Honda finally struck out to a high fork which surprised Okazaki. However, Matsunaka (pinch hitter) walked and was pinch run for by Kidokoro. Uchikawa mishit - the pitch had been poor and Uchikawa had gone for centre but mistimed the swing. Yamato took the catch. This left Cabrera who hasn't batted well and so was an ideal target for the traditional Japanese closer out - the fast straightball. Fujikawa did it in three to end the game. Tigers victory.

Iwata picked up the win and the hero interview and the save went to Fujikawa - his 12th. Tiger had also picked up their first inter league series win as well. Tigers had four hits and Hawks three hits and a walk - neither team could overcome the pitchers and it was only Hosokawa's mistake that seperated them. However, it is likely that without Hosokawa's error Tigers wouldn't have scored in the eighth. Wada's tactical management had been inept and his use of the bunt inappropriate even for this tight game. Still it's a win and very welcome.

Murton was kept out of the line up again. Any idea about whether this is based on poor performance? Or is he still being "punished" for his Nohmi remark? I know he met with the president and Wada on separate occasions, but never heard more about the details or resolution.

I would suspect that Murton is still in disgrace - he hasn't been talking to the press at all since the remark. Wada is using him for pinch hitting though.