August 6th Vogelsong v Takahashi - The sorry performance continues

Tigers now have five foreign players (Williams, Resop, Vogelsong, Atchison and Baldris) in their top lineup taking advantage of the new Olympic arrangements (see Michael's most recent post on BaySide West blog). Okada was not pleased with this performance. He thought the batters had not applied themselves once again 2 runs on nine hits was not satisfactory. Vogelsong also had not done well. This was more of the same as the night before - poor batting and poor pitching against an average side brought Tigers to their second three game losing streak of the season. It was also the fourth series the Tigers have lost. Since they had the seven game winning streak at the beginning of July Tigers have lost more games then they have run and really need to raise their performance. They have not won the pennant yet and can still be overtaken by the Giants. Line scores

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

Starting lineups

1. Akahoshi (Centre)
2. Sekimoto (Second)
3. Toritani (Short)
4. Kanemoto (Left)
5. Takahashi (First)
6. Sakurai (Right)
7. Noguchi (Catcher)
8. Baldris (Third)
9. Vogelsong (Pitcher)

Carp
1. Higashide (Second)
2. Kokubo (Short)
3. Alex (Right)
4. Kurihara (First)
5. Shima (Left)
6. Seabol (Third)
7. Amaya (Centre)
8. Kura (Catcher)
9. Takahashi (Pitcher)

Vogelsong would start well and be impressive for three innings. In Carp's first he retired the side in order without trouble. For Tiger's first Akahoshi led off with a two base hit and then tried to go to far and was out. Takahashi would not pitch impressively at all but Tigers would waste their chances against him and this was the first. The next two batters were quickly out and the innings ended. In Carp's second Vogelsong continued his impressive pitching display as the next three batters were dismissed in order. For the Tigers second Kanemoto set up another chance with a lead off hit. He was followed by Takahashi and Tigers had runners on first and second with no outs. Sakurai flew out and Kanemoto moved up to third. Then Noguchi grounded into a double play and killed off the chance - no 2 wasted. Vogelsong then led off the Carp's third with a dead ball of Amaya but the next three batters were out easily. Akahoshi had another hit in Tigers third - this time not going too far but Sekimoto failed to do anything and the innings ended. Vogelsong's troubles started in the Carp's fourth and were entirely self-generated. He gave up a two base hit to Kokubo. Then he dead balled Alex (not very good) and walked Kurihara (even worse) to load the bases with no outs. Then he suddenly lifted his game and struck out the next two batters. It began to look like he would get out of the innings without damage. But after his efforts with a fly or ground out all that was needed he walked Amaya for a walk in run 1-0 Carp. Then he unleashed a wild pitch 2-0 Carp. Finally he got the aforementioned ground out when Kura hit towards Toritani. End of innings and end of Vogelsong for the match.

Tigers were quickly on the scoreboard - Kanemoto had a two base and then Takahashi did the same 2-1 Carp. Sakurai and Noguchi walked to load the bases with one out. However, the ineffective Baldris struck out and then Asai (pinch hitter) flew out in foul ground. Carp's Takahashi had had a lucky escape. Atchison pitched the fifth for the Tigers - his first appearance in relief and retired the Carp batters in order. Then came the bottom of the innings and Akahoshi led off with a hit and was able to make second on a poor throw. Sekimoto bunted him to third and then Toritani drove him home 2-2 scores level. Kanemoto and Takahashi both grounded out and the innings ended with Toritani on first. Carp had blown their lead. The sixth was quiet - Atchison was effective but Tigers should have done more against Takahashi who had demonstrated he couldn't hold a lead and was there for the taking.

Resop appeared for the Carp seventh and started with a lead off home run to Seabol 3-2. Not good, Seabol is a not a very effective batter and Resop needs to improve his control. He did get the next three batters without further damage. Tigers seventh was poor - the lack of effort and work was very disappointing. Sekimoto walked but Toritani had visions of a big hit and flew out in foul ground to end the innings. Resop returned in the eighth and still lacked sufficient control. Go Kida (pinch hitter) hit a two base and then with two out Resop gave up a hit to Kurihara. Runners on first and third and really he should have finished the innings there. Instead he managed to give up a two base hit and both runners were home 5-2 Carp. Finally Seabol flew out but once again a Tigers pitcher had put the game beyond reach against an average team. Kanemoto led off Tigers eighth with a hit but once again got no support and the innings ended scoreless. Egusa pitched the Carp ninth and gave up two hits but with two outs he was able to get the final out. Finally it came to Tigers ninth Nagakawa closed the innings and the Tigers batters once again did nothing. Carp victory and the series.

Giants also lost so the gap between the sides remained at nine. Another lazy and complacent performance had seen a B class team take a series they shouldn't have won. Most of Tigers problems were self generated and they had failed to take advantage of their chances. This year shi no rodo is not even a problem but Tigers seem to play like they have a mental shi no rodo in their heads. They need to put in more effort against the second rate teams if they are to win the pennant.