September 9th Iwata v Gonzalez - It was worth the wait

Yano hadn't hit a home run for two months so this one was long overdue. A perfect timing ensured Tigers 71st victory and turned the Magic Number on again as the Giants lost. Tigers seem to collect dubious records - they are the first team to have the Magic Number switched off four times since the start of the 2 league system (many thanks for that gem Michael). The Magic is now 20 (CM is 13). Of course it can be turned off again if Tigers lose and the Giants win. Akahoshi recorded his 30th steal of the year as well. Line scores

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

Starting lineups

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

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

Katsuragi actually started at first. Iwata started with a line out by Fukuchi but Miyamoto hit. This though disappeared in an Aoki double play. Gonzalez started poorly. Akahoshi hit and then stole second (its been a long time since that happened). He then advanced to third when Swallows messed up the throw. Hirano walked and Sekimoto grounded out to third but this allowed Akahoshi home 1-0 Tigers. Kanemoto hit and Hirano motored round to third and then Toritani hit a sacrifice fly 2-0 Tigers. Their start had been more aggressive and base running was more active. Katsuragi hit to set up runners on first and second but Sakurai struck out and the innings was over. The question was, could Iwata hold the lead. He gave up a lead off hit to Hatakeyama but Iihara grounded out. Crucially Hatakeyama was not able to advance to second. Iwata then dead balled Tanaka but got Kawashima to hit into a double play and the innings was over. Tigers lead was maintained. Gonzalez's second innings was just as shakey as his first. Noguchi walked and advanced to second on Iwata's bunte. Akahoshi's centre hit drove him to third and then Akahoshi stole his second base of the night. Runners on second and third with one out. Hirano grounded out to first and Noguchi went for home only to be tagged out (Hirano was safe - maybe a sacrifice fly would have been better). Sekimoto struck out to end the chance and Gonzalez had escaped further damage.

Swallows third was quiet with Iwata being in control and retiring the side in order. Gonzalez was also much more stable - he did walk Katsuragi but that was all. In Swallows fourth Aoki hit but stayed on first as Iwata kept things tight. Tigers fell in order in their fourth. Iwata then lost the plot in Swallows fifth. He gave up a hit to Tanaka (a two base). The next batter, Kawashima hit to put runners on first and third with no outs - Iwata was in trouble. He got Fukukawa to ground out but at the cost of a run 2-1 Tigers. A wild pitch followed and Fukukawa was round to third. Then Gonzalez hit 2-2 scores level. Totally abysmal pitching that innings - what was Iwata thinking. Tigers have allowed too many pitchers to hit and score recently (there was also Maeda for the Carp). Fukuchi then grounded out Gonzalez but was safe himself. He then tried to steal second but Yano threw him out and the innings was over. Tigers fifth saw Sekimoto hit a two base and then Kanemoto walked and Tigers had runners on first and second with one out. The next two batters did nothing and the score remained level. It continued that way in the sixth with both pitchers retiring the sides in order. Apart from his fifth Iwata had been very good and Gonzalez merely OK but had managed to restrict the Tigers to only two runs.

Swallows seventh was pitched by Atchison who had no problems retiring the Swallows batter in order. Swallows pitcher for the Tigers seventh was Matsuoka who likewise had no problems either. Atchison returned for the Swallows eighth and was once again in control - he had struck out three of the six batters he faced. Igarashi took the Tigers eighth and wasn't so secure. He started with a leadoff hit to Kanemoto. Toritani bunted him to second but he stayed there for the second out as Katsuragi flew out. Okada turned to Hiyama (pinch hitter) who duly hit to left. Kanemoto flew round third and headed for home but the throw was good and he was tagged out. As he collided with Fukukawa he took a nasty knock on his knee but was able to continue for the ninth innings. Fujikawa was next and was in dominating form - retiring the top of the Swallows order with ease. Takada chose Oshimoto for the bottom. He faced Yano (replacement catcher) on his first at bat. The first pitch was a strike and then Yano fouled the second one - two strikes and no balls. Yano proceeded to work the ball count up to three whilst fouling off others. Finally on his eleventh pitch he stroked a low straightball into the centre stand for a sayonara home run 3-2 Tigers victory.

A good victory for the Tigers who had played with more conviction and application. Base running had been better and despite two runners being tagged out at the plate Tigers had been prepared to try to score. This was more encouraging as this kind of will to win has been lacking recently. Tigers need to build on this important victory and generate more momentum in this nine game run of games they have.