July 15th Iwata v Kawashima - Iwata doesn't do well

Well I'm back from holiday and whilst I was able to follow the results in Italy (over the Internet) I couldn't write any reports. The ones that were missed will be added over the next few days but I am going to start with the most recent game. Here Tigers pitching failed them or rather Iwata failed. His first two innings were so bad that they gave the Swallows a boost which they would never let go of. Line scores

         1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R  H E
Swallows 4 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 6 15 1
Tigers   0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0  6 1

Starting lineups

1. Akahoshi (Centre)
2. Sekimoto (Third)
3. Arai (First)
4. Kanemoto (Left)
5. Katsuragi (Right)
6. Toritani (Short)
7. Yano (Catcher)
8. Fujimoto (Second)
9. Iwata (Pitcher)

Swallows
1. Fukuchi (Right)
2. Miyamoto (Third)
3. Aoki (Centre)
4. Hatakeyama (First)
5. Tanaka (Second)
6. Iihara (Left)
7. Wilson (Short)
8. Kawamoto (Catcher)
9. Kawashima (Pitcher)

Iwata started poorly. After getting the first out he gave up a hit to Miyamoto, then another hit to Aoki. Hatakeyama followed and the bases were loaded. Next batter, Tanaka struck out to end the chance of a sacrifice fly but Iwata's control wasn't what it should be. Iihara got hold of his third pitch for a bases clearing double 3-0 Swallows - runner on third. Wilson hit towards Iwata who messed up the chance and he was safe on first. More unfortunately for Tigers Iihara was home 4-0 Swallows. Kawamoto walked and then Kawashima hit (just to show how awful Iwata was in the first innings) and the bases were loaded again. The next batter - Fukuchi grounded out though and the innings was over. Tigers first started with an Akahoshi hit but this went nowhere. Kawashima has been pitching well recently and in this game he continued. The Swallows second continued Iwata's rout. He gave up a leadoff hit to Miyamoto. Then it was Aoki's turn to hit a three base 5-0 Swallows. The next batter walked but then Tanaka grounded out to short but Aoki was home 6-0 Swallows. Iihara hit again to set up runners on first and second with one out but Wilson grounded out into a double play to end the innings. So far Iwata had been dismal. Katsuragi had a hit in Tigers second but was caught off base and was out. No one else troubled Kawashima.

The Swallows third started with a Kawamoto hit but then a Fukuchi double play ended the danger. In the Tigers third Fujimoto hit but then stayed rooted on first base as none of the other batters did anything. For the next Swallows innings Miyamoto hit and Hatakeyama walked. Miyamoto made third on a Tanaka ground out but the final batter of the innings Iihara also grounded out. Tigers fourth saw the side retired in order - the Tigers batting was not impressive either. In the Swallows fifth Wilson walked and then Kawamoto hit - runners on first and second with no outs. Kawashima bunted them to second and third but Fukuchi struck out and the final batter Miyamoto grounded out to Sekimoto to end the danger. Iwata would retire after this innings after a particularly poor display. He had not been convincing in any of the innings and had surrendered six runs on eleven hits. He had also walked four batters, Kubo (batting coach) later said his weight transference had been wrong. Kawashima continued his progress in the Tigers fifth, once again retiring the side in order. Abe was brought to the mound for the Swallows sixth and despite giving up hits to Hatakeyama and Tanaka kept them under control.

In the Tigers version Akahoshi hit but nothing came of this and the Tigers remained scoreless. Abe continued with the Swallows seventh and retired the side in order. Tigers seventh saw Toritani reach first on a Kawashima error but nothing came of this. For the Swallows eighth Abe continued with his pitching and gave up a hit to Fukuchi. He stole second but advanced no further. So to the Tigers eighth and Kawashima's only challenge of the night. Hirano (replacement second) hit and this was followed by an Akahoshi hit. Kawashima then dead balled Sekimoto (a sign he was getting tired) to load the bases. With only one out the situation was dangerous but Arai struck out and Kanemoto flew out going for a grand slam. The Tigers remained scoreless. The Swallows ninth saw Ishikawa's pitching debut for the Tigers first team. He was brought into the side to strengthen the relief pitching as a replacement for Taiyo. He gave up a hit to Iihara but a Wilson double play made sure that the Swallows didn't go any further. Tigers ninth was pitched by Igarashi who retired the side in order to ensure the victory for the Swallows.

A very good pitching performance by Kawashima had seen the Swallows win with ease. Iwata had been awful and the Swallows batting had done well off him. Swallows have proven to be the side that has given the Tigers the most trouble and so it continued.