June 1st Atchison v Fujii - Fujimoto wins the game

This was a superb game. A hard fought match which was in doubt until the final out. Tigers walked away with an important victory but Fighters showed they are a tough team. I don't actually think Deanna needs to worry - there is too much talent and depth in the side and they will be contenders if not winners. Atchison's return was encouraging and his form was good. Line scores

         1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 R  H E   
Tigers   0 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 0  2 5 13 0
Fighters 0 0 0 1 0 2 0 0 0  1 4  7 1

Starting lineups

1. Asai (Right)
2. Sekimoto (Second)
3. Arai (First)
4. Kanemoto (Left)
5. Mitsunobu Takahashi (DH)
6. Toritani (Short)
7. Ford (Centre)
8. Yano (Catcher)
9. Baldris (Third)

Starting pitcher was Atchison

Fighters
1. Tsuboi (Left)
2. Kudoh (Centre)
3. Tanaka (Second)
4. Inaba (Right)
5. Takahashi (Catcher)
6. Sledge (DH)
7. Sweeney (First)
8. Koyano (Third)
9. Takaguchi (Short)

Starting pitcher was Fujii

Of course Sweeney at First did not last long and the name was replaced by Oda who actually started. As for the match Fujii started well and dismissed the Tigers in order. Atchison likewise had no problems with the Fighters. The Tigers second was more challenging. Leadoff was Kanemoto. His second pitch was hammered into left centre for a home run 1-0 Tigers. The next two batters grounded out but then Ford walked. Yano was the next batter and he hit a two base to left. What would be noticeable this game was that the fighters fielders stood too far from the wall and so the ball went over left for a two base hit. Ford showed excellent hustle and was home 2-0 Tigers. Atchison retired the Fighters in order. In the Tigers third the first two outs fell easily but then Arai walked. Kanemoto hit and Tigers had runners on first and third. The final batter Takahashi flew out to end the innings though. Fighters third was a bit tougher. Atchison seems to have trouble with the lower batters and this was evident in this game. Oda hit and then Koyano also hit runners on first and second with no outs - a dangerouse situation. The next batter, Takaguchi tried to bunt, the first was unsuccessful then Atchison fed him a vicious ball which he could only deflect behind him for a Yano catch. One out, next batter Tsuboi. He flew out to Ford and the runners remained anchored on first and second. Final batter, Kudoh, he grounded out to Sekimoto and the Tigers had escaped.

Tigers fourth started with a two base hit from Toritani. Ford flew out which moved Toritani round to third and then Yano tried what was meant to be a sacrifice fly. Once again Inaba was standing too far in and the hit turned into a two base 3-0 Tigers with one out. This was the end of Fujii and Sakamoto took the mound. He needs to think about the third out but this innings he only had two outs. Baldris grounded out to third and Katsuragi (replacement right) struck out. Fighters responded in their fourth with a Tanaka two base hit. He moved to third on a Inaba first ground out and then Takahashi hit a sacrifice fly to left 3-1 Tigers. Sakamoto pitched the Tigers fifth. The first two outs were easy enough but then he ran into trouble. Kanemoto walked, Takahashi hit and then Toritani walked - bases loaded without too much effort from the Tigers. Next batter Ford - he needs to think about what he swings at - he grounded out to third but it was a pitch he should have left as it was a ball. Atchison gave up a hit to Oda who was bunted to second by Koyano. However, he then struck out Takaguchi and induced Tsuboi to fly out - end of innings.

Once again (in the Tigers sixth) Sakamoto ran into trouble. His first two outs were excellent strike outs. Then Katsuragi hit. Next batter, Sekimoto also hit - runners on first and second. They advanced to second and third on a wild pitch. Arai was next. He took two strikes and two balls but then hit - normally a scoring hit but his bat broke and the ball landed tamely at short - a ground out and the end of the innings. A lucky escape. For the Fighters sixth Okada decided he would go to a relief pitcher. A wise decision but his choice of pitcher was not. He chose Egusa - why?. Egusa started by walking Kudoh. He then gave up a two base hit to Tanaka 3-2 Tigers - runner on second no outs. Next batter Inaba and he hit to centre 3-3 scores level. The sooner Egusa is forgotten as relief with a lead less than 4 runs the better. Okada switched to Watanabe. Takahashi hit but the runner going for second was thrown out. Then Sledge struck out. Final batter was Oda but before he could be out Takahashi tried to steal second. Yano's throw was accurate and he was out.

The Tigers seventh saw Miyanishi as the pitcher. He gave up a hit to Toritani but was otherwise untroubled. Watanabe continued pitching for the Fighters seventh and gave up a hit to Takaguchi. However, with two outs the next batter Tsuboi struck out. Miyanishi continued into the Tigers eighth. Yano grounded out but then Baldris hit. A great bit of fielding by Kudoh kept him on first (it could have been a two base hit). Katsuragi decided to bunt (you were asking why with one out). Miyanishi took the ball and messed up the throw to first. Baldris had been replaced by Akahoshi (replacement centre) who rounded third but once again was stopped by Wada the third base coach. The throw had been so wild that Akahoshi could have made home and really Wada needs to be replaced by someone more willing to take risks. Anyway Tigers had runners on second and third with one out. A very good chance. Katsuragi was replaced by Fujimoto and Hiyama was brought in as a pinch hitter. Fighters pitcher was Tateyama and he deliberately walked Hiyama (he would be replaced by Shuta who would move to third). Bases loaded with one out and Shuta pinch ran for Hiyama. Next batter Arai, he hit towards first who immediately fired it to the catcher to catch Akahoshi going for home. 2 outs. Next batter Kanemoto who hit a deep fly to left. Kudoh was standing deep and took the catch right on the wall. Scores still level.

For the Fighters eighth Williams was summoned. Kudoh was blown away looking and then Tanaka flew out. Inaba walked but the next batter Takahashi grounded out to second. Tigers ninth saw Tateyama again. He faced Lin (pinch hitter) who got hold of a pitch and hit it high along the first baseline. You were sure it was a home run but it drifted just foul. Lin then flew out to centre. Toritani grounded out then Tateyama gave up a hit to Ford. Next batter Yano. Ford tried to steal second and really had no chance. The throw was good and the fielder had all the time in the world to tag him out. He is fast round the bases but doesn't possess the explosive acceleration needed to steal - end of innings. Williams continued with the Fighters ninth, Sledge struck out and then Okada went to Kubota. First batter Iiyama and he lined out to Fujimoto. Next batter Koyano walked but the final batter Inada grounded out to Kubota end of innings.

So to the Tigers 10th which was pitched by Takeda who faced Yano as leadoff. Yano hit and this brought up Akahoshi. He hit towards short who got Yano but not Akahoshi. Akahoshi then stole second - a superb steal against difficult opposition. Next batter Fujimoto. He hit to right and here Fighters made a mistake. Inaba was standing too close in - Fujimoto if he hits (which is rare) generally hits a long way. This was no exception and the hit floated over Inaba's out-stretched glove for a timely three base hit. Akahoshi was home 4-3 Tigers and Fujimoto was on third with no outs. Next batter was Shuta who hit towards second. Second of course threw to the catcher to try to catch Fujimoto going for home. This time (unlike the eighth his feet were not on the home plate) Fujimoto rounded him and was home 5-3 Tigers. The final batter Arai hit into a double play to close the innings.

The final innings was pitched by Fujikawa. This would not be straightforward at all. Fujikawa started with Murata (replacement centre). His first two pitches were balls. Then Murata feinted to bunt. This unsettled Fujikawa who pitched two more balls and Murata walked - very intelligent batting. Next batter Kudoh would ground out to first for the vital first out but Murata would be safe on second. Tanaka struck out and there were two outs. This is where Fujikawa's control began to deteriorate. He walked Inaba (who was pinch run for by Konata). Then he faced Takahashi (who would be pinch run for by Oyama). Fujikawa dead balled him to load the bases. To be honest Fujikawa's control this innings was appalling. Next up Sledge who Fujikawa walked in four - he just could not make a strike - walk in run - 5-4 Tigers with bases loaded. Then he faced Iiyama - first ball strike swinging. Next ball Iiyama swung at and hit foul. It went high and to first and Arai was under it a foul fly - Tigers victory.

That was close - two very good sides had given superb entertainment and fought hard. Tigers won today but yesterday Fighters won. Fujikawa picked up his 18th save but wasn't satisfied. Kubota picked up the victory. Atchison was happy as his return had been a presentable performance. The main feeling was one of relief - this surpassed the victory against the Swallows as the best game of the season.