April 28th Shimoyanagi v Kobayashi - Arai begins to show his stuff

Arai has had a slow start to the season but recently has begun to show just what he's capable of. On Friday he hit a sacrifce fly and then on Saturday 3 RBIs but more significantly yesterday evening saw another four RBIs as Tigers lost the lead and regained it again against the BayStars. Mayumi shuffled his team again bringing in Fujimoto but had to bring Hirano in for the ailing Akahoshi mid match. The match was played at Kurashiki in Okayama as part of NPBs policy of bringing the big teams to out of the way grounds. Box Scores.

          1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R  H E
BayStars  0 0 0 0 0 4 0 0 0 4  8 1
Tigers    0 0 2 0 0 2 4 0 X 8 13 1

Starting lineups

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

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

Kobayashi had done well in his previous outing against Tigers but this time was not so secure. Shimoyanagi started well but faded very quickly and surrendered a two run lead rather dramatically. However, the Tigers batting ensured that the victory went the Tigers way. Shimoyanagi would start very nicely retiring the batters in order. Kobayashi would give up a hit in Tigers first but otherwise be in control. BayStars second saw their first hit, a single from Johnson but nothing came of this. Tigers second looked a bit more ominous for the BayStars as first Arai and then Fujimoto hit to set up runners on first and second. Buy Kanoh couldn't convert and the final batter was Shimoyanagi who wasn't going to do anything. BayStars third was quiet and so far Shimoyanagi had demonstrated good control. Kobayashi though ran into more trouble in the Tigers third but this time couldn't escape without damage. He walked Sekimoto with one out and then gave up a hit to Toritani. Kanemoto struck out but Arai hit deep to right, the ball bouncing off the wall which Yoshimura failed to take and both runners were home 2-0 Tigers runner on second. Katsuragi flew out but a good innings for Tigers.

BayStars couldn't really mount a challenge even though Shimoyanagi wasn't really in control of the fourth. He gave up a one out walk to Uchikawa which was followed by a Murata hit, runners on first and second. However, Johnson hit into a double play and the innings was over. Kobayashi produced some fine pitching in the Tigers fourth getting all three batters to ground out but about this time Hirano took over from Akahoshi at centre. Shimoyanagi proceeded to give more proof that he was struggling (even though his pitch count wasn't high) as with two out he gave up a hit to Hosoyamada. He then failed to get the final out, Kobayahsi and surprisingly walked the BayStars pitcher. Runners on first and second and nice work by Kobayashi. However, Ishikawa was in obliging mood and grounded out to end that threat. Tigers fifth was quiet as once again Kobayashi retired the batters in order. Mayumi decided to risk Shimoyanagi again in the sixth which wasn't a bad decision. It would be his final innings and he was well within his normal limit. However, Shimoyanagi wouldn't escape the innings withoug damage. He started with a hit to Yamasaki (pinch hitter and replacement second). A wild pitch took the BayStar to second and a couple of flys moved him to third but only one out was needed now. This wouldn't come. Johnson hit to right driving in a run 2-1 Tigers and then Yoshimura hit a two base centre, runners on second and third. Kinjoh walked to load the bases and Shimoyanagi looked in real trouble. How much trouble would be demonstrated by Hosoyamada who hit a bases clearing two base hit 4-2 BayStars, runner on second. Kobayashi was the next batter and this time Shimoyanagi didn't make any mistake and struck him out swinging but he had blown his lead and his chance of a victory. Kobayashi now needed to hold the lead but couldn't. He gave up a lead off hit to Kanemoto, which was followed by a hit to Arai, runners on first and second with no outs and Ohya decided that a change of pitcher was needed. Nasuno took the mound and gave up a hit to Asai (pinch hitter and replacement right) to load the bases still with no outs. Exit Nasuno to be replaced by Sanada. He faced Imaoka (pinch hitter) who hit to left for an RBI 4-3 BayStars, bases loaded no outs. Kanoh followed and was induced to hit into a double play but the runner on third was home 4-4 scores tied, runner on first with two outs. Hiyama was brought in to try and convert the runner but all he achieved was to fly out to second. Still a good innings for Tigers, they had struck back immediatley and wiped out the BayStars advantage.

Watanabe pitched the BayStars seventh. He has not looked secure and has not yet found his rythmn this season. This innings would be no different. He got the first out but then a Toritani error allowed Yamasaki to reach first. Uchikawa hit and Watanabe was faced with runners on first and second. He got Murata to fly out but Mayumi went to Egusa for the final out. This he did by getting Johnson to fly out to short and end the innings with the scores still tied. Tigers seventh was pitched by Yoshikawa who did not do well. Hirano hit and was bunted to second by Sekimoto. Then Toritani flew out to left but Uchikawa dropped it for what would be a costly error. Uchikawa has not looked comfortable under the fly ball in the series against Tigers. Maybe he's in the wrong position. This set up runners on second and third and BayStars decided to deliberately walk Kanemoto and get at Arai. They were probably hoping for a double play. They didn't get it, Arai put the ball over the out of position Uchikawa for a two base hit driving in two runs 6-4 Tigers, runners on second and third. Asai was next and hit driving in another run 7-4 Tigers, runners on first and third which became runners on third and second as Asai stole second and still with only one out. Sakurai (replacement centre) was next and he hit a deep fly to centre for another run 8-4 Tigers runner on third. The final out was Kanoh who flew out. For BayStars eighth Mayumi chose Williams who walked Hosoyamada but was otherwise secure. Takasaki pitched the Tigers eighth and gave up a hit to Sekimoto but nothing came of this. Finally Fujikawa pitched the BayStars ninth and retired the batters in orer, Tigers victory.

A good victory based on good batting. This time it hadn't been the BayStars offence that had failed them but the relief pitching. Tigers batting had lifted its level and overwhelmed the pitchers. Egusa picked up the win as Shimoyanagi had blown his part. Thought needs to be given as to whether he can continue as a starting pitcher as he has started to struggle and isn't really pitching as he can. Arai has begun to hit and this is very encouraging.