Two in the First, then Back to Zeros

After breaking their scoreless streak and defeating the Saitama Seibu Lions on Tuesday, June 1, Yokohama started the second game of the two game set in Saitama off on the right foot, scoring twice in the first inning.

Shimozono Tatsuya doubled with one out, and was moved to third when Uchikawa Seiichi grounded out to second. With two down, the BayStars put together 3 consecutive hits between Jose Castillo, Yamasaki Noriharu, and Kinjoh Tatsuhiko to score two. While they did manage to get as far as third base a few more times this game against Lion ace Wakui Hideaki, home returned to being a despairingly long way away. Striking out a whopping 10 times against Wakui (and once against closer Brian Sikorski), the 'Stars just couldn't get anyone else over the plate.

On the pitching side of things, returning BayStar Ohka Tomokazu threw 6 2/3rd innings of two-run ball. The Lions scored single runs in each of the 6th, 7th, and 8th innings for the 3-2 victory. Former BayStar Ishii Yoshimoto led off the 7th with a solo home run to right off of Ohka, tying the game up at 2-2 at the time. It was relief pitcher (and former Giant) Sanada Hiroki who threw not one, but two wild pitches in the 8th inning which led to the Lions' winning run.

Of note, Terrmel Sledge missed the game after, according to Nikkan Sports, "sleeping wrong." Gen reports it as "sleeping on his neck the wrong way" from Sankei Sports. The team doesn't stay in a hotel when they're in Saitama, do they? I would think that he's got his usual pillow for all of the Kanto Area games.