April 19th Fukuhara v Kobayashi - Tigers turn to waste

An error ridden performance (3 errors) saw Tigers lose to an effective performance by Kobayashi, the BayStars pitcher. Fukuhara lost again and whilst Nohmi is improving Fukuhara isn't. Once again Mayumi started Fujimoto but really with Hirano on form this is folly. BayStars are not going to challenge for the pennant this year unless they can convert their chances more effectively. They have Kobayashi to thank for their victory today not their batters and they really do need someone who can consistently drive in runs. Box scores

         1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R  H E
Tigers   0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 2  6 3
BayStars 0 1 0 0 1 2 0 0 X 4 11 0

Starting lineups

Tigers
1. Akahoshi (Centre)
2. Fujimoto (Second)
3. Toritani (Short)
4. Kanemoto (Left)
5. Arai (Third)
6. Sekimoto (First)
7. Mench (Right)
8. Kanoh (Catcher)
9. Fukuhara (Pitcher)

BayStars
1. Ishikawa (Short)
2. Ohnishi (Centre)
3. Uchikawa (Left)
4. Yoshimura (Right)
5. Johnson (First)
6. Naitoh (Third)
7. Fujita (Second)
8. Hosoyamada (Catcher)
9. Kobayashi (Pitcher)

Kobayashi would start the Tigers first with a two out hit to Toritani. Kanemoto though didn't do anything and the innings was scoreless. Fukuhara would get into trouble straight away. After striking out Ishikawa, Fukuhara proceeded to dead ball Ohnishi. What is it with Tigers pitchers and the dead ball? It happens far to frequently. Uchikawa - who is beginning to show his form - hit and BayStars had runners on first and second. Then Yoshimura, in a demonstration of their problems hit into a double play and a nice chance went begging. Tigers second was quiet - the batters fell in order. BayStars second saw Johnson lead off with a two base hit. He advanced to second on a ground out and then Fujita hit driving him in 1-0 BayStars, runner on second. Then another double play and that innings was over. You didn't feel that a one run lead was enough. Tigers third was also quiet, Kobayashi once again being in control and retiring the batters in order. BayStars third saw the first Tigers error. A infield hit was fielded by Kanoh who fired it to first but the throw didn't connect and the batter, Ishikawa was safe on second. Fukuhara, though, was able to keep him there and the innings ended scoreless.

Kobayashi suddenly and inexplicably ran into trouble in the fourth. He walked Fujimoto and then Toritani hit. The next batter was Kanemoto who also walked to load the bases with no outs. Oops. Kobayashi sent a wild pitch bringing in a run 1-1 scores tied, runners on second and third. Things looked ominous for the BayStars. Here though, he pulled himself together and got Arai to ground out to short - no run. Sekimoto to strike out - no run and finally Mench to fly out - no run. A very fine piece of pitching and a real waste of a chance by the Tigers. But just to prove that the Tigers weren't the only ones who could waste chances, the BayStars did the same in their fourth. Yoshimura led off with a hit. This was followed by Johnson's second two base of the game - runners on second and third with no outs. Naitoh lined out and then Fujita grounded out to Fukuhara which kept the runners locked on base. Fukuhara walked Hosoyamada to load the bases and get at Kobayashi who duly flew out to end the threat. Tigers fifth saw Fukuhara, of all people, walk but nothing resulted from this piece of luck. BayStars fifth was going nicely for Tigers, two outs - Uchikawa next and the BayStars left got hold of Fukuhara's curve and settled it nicely in the Tigers Gaia for a home run 2-1 BayStars. Yoshimura hit and then stole second and Fukuhara walked Johnson to set up runners on first and second. Naitoh grounded out and the innings was over with a slim lead to the BayStars. In the sixth Kobayashi walked Kanemoto but nothing came of this. Fukuhara though, continued to give up runs. With one out Hosoyamada hit. A Matsumoto (pinch hitter) hit followed setting up runners on first and second. Then Fukuhara managed to engineer a three base hit to the otherwise ineffective Ishikawa. Both runners home 4-1 BayStars runner on third and Mayumi had had enough. Watanabe was summoned and he got the next two batters to ground out and end the innings.

As Matsumoto had replaced Kobayashi, the new pitcher was Sanada. He walked Kanoh and then gave up a hit to Akahoshi. No doubt with memories of Tigers massacre of him last season (19-2 Tigers) Ohya replaced him with Yamaguchi who did the job and got Hiyama (pinch hitter) to ground out. Abe pitched BayStars seventh and despite allowing a walk to Naitoh (he stole second) was untroubled. Yamaguchi continued for Tigers eighth and gave up a solo home run to Toritani 4-2 BayStars. Arai followed with a one out two base hit but the final two batters fell easily and the BayStars still had a useful lead. BayStars eighth saw Yamasaki (replacement third) hit. He was bunted to second by Ishikawa but Egusa (the pitcher) messed up the out and BayStars had runners on first and second with only one out. Egusa was up to the challenge and got the next two batters out. Ishii (who came to BayStars from Chunichi) was chosen for the Tigers ninth. He started with a hit to Kanoh. The next batter was Asai (pinch hitter) who bunted. This was possibly not the best course of action for the ninth innings especially if you are trailing by two runs and just indicates Asai's general lack of awareness. Akanhoshi grounded out and then Sakurai (pinch hitter) flew out and the match was over. BayStars victory.

This was a poor performance by the Tigers batters who hadn't shown any patience or application. Admittedly some good pitching by Kobayashi had restricted them but even so they should have had more runs in the fourth. The Asai bunt had been incomprehensible - short sighted and lacking in understanding. Toritani had managed another home run but that had been the only bright spot for the Tigers.