The one that got away

This series could so easily have been a sweep with the first game almost being a complete game shutout. The first game was tight - very tight. Nohmi started superbly and was matched by the BayStars pitcher Ino. He though failed to take a Fukudome hit which allowed the Tigers clean up to get on base. A walk took Fukudome to second and then Nishioka singled which was enough to bring the runner home 1-0 Tigers. The score then stayed that way until the ninth. Kanemoto decided to give Nohmi another innings. He had thrown 96 pitches and controlled the game. Furthermore, Okazaki had been having a good game but all this was about to change. The first pitch of the innings was tired and ill considered and Tsutsugoh didn't need a second invitation to club it over the wall for the tying run 1-1. Here it would have been wise for Kanemoto to switch pitchers but he left Nohmi in and by the time Kanemoto woke up to the fact that this possibly wasn't the best idea there were runners on first and second with two outs. Instead of going with one of his better pitchers Kanemoto, as most inexperienced managers do went with a fill in Saiuchi who gave a away a single and the sayonara victory to the
BayStars 2-1.
For the second game of the series we once again saw a good pitching performance from a Tigers pitcher but this time it wasn't wasted. Iwasada was the Tigers pitcher and one hopes as the guest commented on the Swallows post that Tiger stick with a six pitcher rotation. Iwasada pitched well. He had a couple of scares, in the BayStars second when he had runners on first and third and fourth when he had a bases loaded situation but both times he was able to get out of the bind without damage. Tigers were well held in check by the BayStars pitcher, Kubo up until the sixth. Then Kubo faced a bases loaded situation but couldn't get out of it with Toritani driving in two runs 2-0 Tigers. Wisely, Kanemoto replaced Iwasada after the seventh and went to the relief who kept the BayStars scoreless. Tigers meanwhile cut loose in the ninth knocking the relief pitcher Hirata out of the game and then taking Fukuuchi apart with three runs off the innings. The runs came from the bats of the exciting Takayama (2) and Hague (1) giving Tigers a comfortable 5-0 win.
So to the final game which was basically a walk for the Tigers. Fujikawa started and was much improved on his previous outing though he still lacks stamina. Tigers scored well in the first with a Fukudome sacrifice fly and a Gomez 2 run home run 3-0. Things went quiet for a while until the sixth when Fukudome doubled Yokota home 4-0. Next innings the pinch hitting Hojo drilled a home run into the left stand 5-0. Then Fukudome singled right in the eighth to bring in another run 6-0 Tigers. Tigers hit again with a two run home run from Egoshi 8-0 Tigers. BayStars to their credit didn't give up without a fight. Kaneda pitching the ninth was roughed up for three runs leaving the final score 8-3. A very satisfactory series for the Tigers with their pitching doing well this time and plenty of run support.

In spite of the recent series with the Crap, I am still a fan of the current "young Tigers" under Kanemoto. It's clear that he still needs a lot of work on the finer points of management, especially in regards to his pitching staff. I hope he doesn't emulate the usual tendency here to go after silly milestones (complete games, shutouts) or follow the "save the closer for later" policy in tied games.

I do like the energy and drive of youngsters like Egoshi and Takayama. If they can keep it up for the rest of the season, we are in for some entertaining games.

With regards to the weekend series with the Carp, did the two foreign players somehow both get injured on Saturday or are they in Kanemoto's doghouse? Was at the game yesterday and surprised to see both of them out of the lineup. Thought maybe it was just a rest day, but then they weren't even used as pinch hitters in a game that ended up very close at the end. Umeno looked lost at the plate all day and would have been a prime candidate for pinch hitting for, as we often change our catchers mid-game.

Gomez was struggling with lower back pain and was pulled on Saturday. Hague wasn't feeling well and went to hospital on the 10th.

Thanks, I just read that after posting. Thought it was odd because I hadn't gotten that info before the game yesterday.