April 20th Kojima v Ishikawa - Another series in the bag

Tigers needed a replacement for Iwata and brough up Kojima. Finally as well Komiyama was used as starting catcher, Wada's pride being abandoned. It was a perfect choice with Komiyama being assured and totally in tune with a nervous pitcher. Kojima has been hyped as a potential Tigers ace but the coaches haven't been able to bring his skills out. Finally he produced a performance worthy of his skills. Scores

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

Starting Lineups

Swallows
1. Milledge (Left)
2. Kawashima (Short)
3. Miyamoto (Third)
4. Balentien (Right)
5. Hatakeyama (First)
6. Iihara (Centre)
7. Hiroyasu Tanaka (Second)
8. Masahiko Tanaka (Catcher)
9. Ishikawa (Pitcher)

Tigers
1. Nishioka (Second)
2. Yamato (Centre)
3. Toritani (Short)
4. Murton (Left)
5. Fukudome (Right)
6. Takahiro Arai (First)
7. Ryota Arai (Third)
8. Komiyama (Catcher)
9. Kojima (Pitcher)

Ryota returned to action as a starting player but batting in a more appropriate place for him - seventh. The exciting change was Komiyama starting as catcher - at last! Kojima started nervously walking Milledge. Very kindly, Kawashima bunted Milledge to second. Then Miyamoto grounded out to Toritani which took Milledge to third. Balentien hit to third where Ryota fielded and fired the ball to his brother Takahiro for the out. Ishikawa started by striking out Nishioka but then Yamato hit throug the infield to left. Toritani was next and picked on a slider which was brutally dispatched into right. Yamato of course motored home 1-0 Tiger but Toritani tried to turn a two base into a three base and was tagged out. The ambition was very much appreciated. Murton then flew out to end the innings. Tigers had the lead - could Kojima hold it? The answer was yes and hold it well. Hatakeyama popped up to first. Then Iihara hit to the reliable Toritani and finally Hiroyasu Tanaka did the same. Tigers first would prove to be a freak innings - for the second the batters fell in order but Tigers would hold the lead. In Swallows third Kojima started by striking out Masahiko Tanaka and then getting Ishikawa to ground out to the third. Milledge walked again but with two out this wasn't such a problem and Kawashima grounded out to Toritani. Tigers third saw two fall before Nishioka hit a very nice double to left. However, Yamato struck out swinging to end the innings.

The Swallows fourth was basically the clean up falling in order. Kojima after his nervy start was begining to feel a lot more comfortable and showed it in his pitching. Tigers fourth followed a similar pattern with their clean up also falling in order. Hiroyasu Tanaka walked in Swallows fifth with one out but the next two batters were never likely to advance him and he stayed on first. Ryota Arai singled with one out in Tigers fifth and tried to steal with Komiyama at the plate but was thrown out. Komiyama struck out swinging to end the innings. Kojima finally got the hang of Milledge at the start of Swallows sixth getting him to fly out. Kawashima and Miyamoto followed in similar ways. Tigers sixth brought a two out single from Yamato. This time Toritani could only single left - runners on first and third. Murton hit to short for the ground out and Ishikawa survived.

Kojima returned for Swallows seventh which was a bit of a risk given the number of pitches he had thrown (94) He started by giving up a single to Balentien. Hatakeyama and Iihara both flew out and then Hiroyasu Tanaka walked again - runners on first and second. Iwamura (pinch hitter) followed and Komiyama set up a nice ground out to end the innings. Kojima had done well but will need to tighten up on his control. Tigers seventh was quiet - no one walked, no one hit and no one got on base but they still held the lead. So to Swallows eighth and Fukuhara. He worked well with Komiyama - no outside pitches for the first strike out which was nicely engineered (Morioka looking). Milledge grounded out but then Kawashima managed to single. He tried to steal second but unlike Fujii, Komiyama has an arm and the throw out was a formality. End of innings. Furuno pitched Tigers eighth and struck out Conrad (pinch hitter). Then Fujii flew out in foul ground and Nishioka grounded out. Once again Wada had brought on Fujii for no purpose but to stoke his ego. Kubo was the pitcher for the Swallows ninth with Fujii making a meal of the calling as usual. Still the three batters went down in order. Tigers victory.

This game was quick but at least the crowd was decent and the ground was nearly full. Kojima had pitched well, ably marshalled by Komiyama and in fact Kojima had given up only one hit though he did walk four. Tigers hadn't been able to hit Ishikawa apart from the first but that was enough. Tigers actually have a chance to sweep the Swallows who are currently reeling and in a lot of trouble.

Is Iwata injured? Or just being punished for his last two shaky starts? Was surprised to see Kojima get a start so quickly after his bad spring, but very pleased with the results of course.

Has Conrad been benched already? Haven't seen him starting the last couple games. Sure, he's off to a bit of a slow start, but I'd rather give him a chance than see TWO players named Arai in the starting line up.

Yes Iwata was sent down to second team to work on his shaky starts especially the first innings. He isn't injured. The issue though is as much teaming him with Fujii as Iwata's flakiness. Conrad hasn't yet driven in an RBI which it seems is the longest period a Tigers foreign batter has not yet done so.

Should have never let Brazell go! Oh well, "you make your bed, you lay in it".