July 26th Shimoyanagi v Nakata - Sometimes it isn't your day

This game really wasn't the Dragons day. They did almost everything right, got Shimoyanagi in trouble and restricted Tigers batters but still lost. Tigers and Dragons have played eight games this month of which Tigers have taken seven. The Magic Number is now 43 (CM 39). Nakata started quite well but still took the loss. Shimoyanagi showed considerable depth and ability and for the first innings pitched in sunglasses (like Igawa used to do and with as much effect). This game also saw the return of Arai as a starting player. Line scores

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

Starting lineups

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

Dragons
1. Ibata (Short)
2. Araki (Second)
3. Morino (Third)
4. Wada (Left)
5. Nakamura (First)
6. Koike (Centre)
7. Hirata (Right)
8. Tanishige (Catcher)
9. Nakata (Pitcher)

A different lineup from the Dragons. Woods was rested and Wada took his place at fourth. Dragons would start very well. Ibata hit and then Araki hit - runners on first and third with no outs and Shimoyanagi in deep trouble. The Tigers pitcher lifted his game. Morino struck out swinging and then Wada grounded to third. Ibata was out and Wada safe on first but runners on first and second with two outs is a lot better situation to be in. Final batter was Nakamura who Shimoyanagi also struck out. This time Nakata was on form and the Tigers batters fell in order. So to the Tigers second and once again Shimoyanagi ran into deep trouble. Koike hit a two base and then Hirata hit - runners on first and third with no outs. Tanishige walked loading the bases still with no outs. Surely this time the Dragons would score? Well no, Nakata struck out and then Ibata grounded into a double play ending the innings. Amazing pitching by Shimoyanagi who had got out of two jams without damage. Once again in Tigers second, Nakata retired the Tigers batters in order. Dragons third was a little more quiet - Wada had a two base with two out but the final batter, Nakamura grounded out to end the innings. Tigers third was more of the same - Nakata retiring the side in order. So far Dragons had five hits and a walk, Tigers no hits, no walks.

Things reversed themselves in the fourth. Shimoyanagi retired the Dragons in order. Nakata though ran into trouble. With two outs Arai hit to third. Morino missed the take for an error and Arai was safe. A wild pitch (showing Nakata was flustered) took him to third and then Kanemoto was walked. Next batter was Sekimoto, the hero of the night before. He hit a slider between left and centre, neither of whom took it. Both runners were home and Sekimoto was safe on third 2-0 Tigers. Toritani grounded out and didn't convert Sekimoto. Dragons fifth saw Ibata hit with one out but Araki grounded into another double play and the chance was lost. Tigers fifth also saw an innings ending double play, this time by Shimoyanagi. Dragons sixth was quiet with the side being retired in order. Nakata ran into trouble again in the bottom. With two out, Arai hit and then Kanemoto had a two base - runners on second and third. This time Sekimoto failed to convert flying out to first in foul ground. At this stage Shimoyanagi had thrown 79 pitches and struck out five while walking one. Incredibly economical pitching given his troubles in the first two innings. He could have pitched the seventh but Okada decided to go with JFK. Kubota pitched the Dragons seventh retiring the batters in order.

Nakata walked Toritani in the bottom and he advanced to second on a Yano bunt but the next two batters fell and no score resulted. Williams was a bit shaky in the Dragons eighth. With one out, Ibata had a two base hit. Another out later, he walked Morino - runners on first and second with two outs. He got the final batter Wada to ground out and end the innings - no score. Takahashi took the Tigers eighth and retired the side in order with no problems. Of course the Dragons ninth was Fujikawa. With two outs he also gave up a two base this time to Inoue (pinch hitter). However, the final batter Woods (pinch hitter) struck out to end the game - Tigers victory.

You have to take your chances and Dragons hadn't taken theirs. Shimoyanagi had proven to have the extra needed but Dragons had not had the self belief needed. Tigers had and once they took the lead had held it. A very fine victory which left Okada very happy. Shimoyanagi took the win (his 9th) and Fujikawa recorded his 32nd save.