July 18th Andoh v Greisinger - Yano returns

We saw Yano back behind the plate but it was kind of a mixed performance. Sure, Andoh wasn't impressive but Yano didn't seem to be fully up to speed. He did have two hits and did show nice speed round the bases. His throw to dismiss Wakiya in the third was excellent but his calling was rather one dimensional and it wasn't surprising when he was replaced by Kanoh (though Kanoh couldn't really do anything more than Yano). Yano has been away for a long time and it showed in his appreciation of the game. Kanoh showed more variation and skill in directing his pitchers. Cheng and Ishikawa also appeared. Cheng was brilliant but Ishikawa was't so good. Scores

        1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9  R  H E
Tigers  0 0 2 0 1 0 1 0 0  4  9 1 
Giants  2 0 2 0 2 0 3 2 X 11 14 1

Starting lineups

Tigers
1. Hirano (Centre)
2. Sekimoto (Second)
3. Lin (Right)
4. Kanemoto (Left)
5. Brazell (First)
6. Arai (Third)
7. Toritani (Short)
8. Yano (Catcher)
9. Andoh (Pitcher)

Giants
1. Sakamoto (Short)
2. Matsumoto (Centre)
3. Ogasawara (Third)
4. Ramirez (Left)
5. Kamei (First)
6. Tani (Right)
7. Wakiya (Second)
8. Tsuruoka (Catcher)
9. Greisinger (Pitcher)

Greisinger wasn't wonderful but got the run support he needed in massive amounts. He did start well and the Tigers first was scoreless. Andoh wasn't so good and he seemed to miss Kanoh. Kanoh does like to mix his calls up and pays attention to the pitcher's condition whilst Yano expects the pitcher to follow his requirements. This is fine with a confident pitcher but not so good with a pitcher who is wobbly. Andoh started the Giants first with a hit to Sakamoto. This was followed by a left hit to Matsumoto who's grip on the bat suggests an ability only to hit to left. He duly did so and Giants had runners on first and second with no outs. Ogasawara struck out and then Ramirez grounded out to second. Tpritani was only able to get Matsumoto so Giants had runners on first and third. There then followed one of those farcical incidents that only Tigers seem able to generate. Andoh feinted his throw to third and to first to lock the runners on base but Ramirez was more than aware and set off to steal as Andoh turned to make his pitch. He was successful in stealing second and things looked very threatening but still there were two outs. The next batter was Kamei who had a very lucky game and at the end was the undeserved hero. His luck started this innings and he managed to stretch and land a ball in no mans land to left which enabled both runners to make home 2-0 Giants runner on first. Tani struck out but it was obvious Tigers were in for a tough night. Tigers second was quiet as Greisinger was able to maintain control though with a large number of pitches. Giants second was almost a repeat of the first. Wakiya led off with a hit and was bunted to second by Greisinger. Sakamoto walked to set up runners on first and second but this time Matsumoto wasn't able to hit and he grounded out to Toritani. Greisingers troubles started with a one out hit to Yano in Tigers third. Sakamoto is really a very indifferent shortstop and one reasons he's in the side because he is young and sexy, not for any baseball ability. Andoh bunted Yano to second and then Hirano hit past Sakamoto driving in Yano. Tigers base running was very good and Yano was aggressive in going for the plate 2-1 Giants, runner on second. Sekimoto then hit to right and Hirano flew home 2-2 scores tied. Once again due to poor fielding a Tigers runner was able to make second but Lin who had a poor game, grounded out and the innings was over. Andoh, ably assisted by Yano set about restoring the Giants lead. Ogasawara led off with a two base hit. Ramirez's ground out took him to third but Kamei's fly kept him there. Here Lin messed up again. His positioning at right was poor and so he was unable to take Tani's hit (it was straightforward enough) and Ogasawara was home 3-2 Giants runner on second. Wakiya hit to right and Tani was home 4-2 Giants and the lead was re-established. Wakiya then tried to steal second but was thrown out to end the innings.

In Tigers fourth Greisinger walked Kanemoto but he was caught up in a Brazell double play. Arai then struck out - he was mostly poor the whole game. Giants fourth was quiet as the batters fell 1-2-3. Tigers fifth saw Yano hit with one out. A Greisinger balk then took him to second (the movement of the pitcher's foot apparently being the problem). Andoh grounded out to take Yano to third and then Hirano hit again. His bat broke and the ball bounced off second over Sakamoto's glove for a centre hit. Yano was home 4-3 Giants, runner on first. Sekimoto then grounded out and the innings was over. Giants restored the margin immediately. With one out Ogasawara hit. This was followed by a poor pitch from Andoh which was deposited in the centre stand by Ramirez, 2 run home run 6-3 Giants. The next two batters flew out and the innings finished. In Tigers sixth Kanemoto walked again as Greisinger struggled with his control. Brazell then hit but Kanemoto contrived to be hit by the ball which meant he was out for interference. It was also pretty painful. With a runner on first Arai then flew out to end the innings. Andoh had lasted five innings and had been indifferent. For Giants sixth we saw Cheng. He was excellent and reitired the batters in order, his strike out of Tsuruoka being particularly impressive.

Greisinger returned for Tigers seventh surprisingly. With two out he gave up a two base hit to Katsuragi. Next up was Hirano and Greisinger unleashed a very wild pitch. Katsuragi was signalled round and made home 6-4 Giants. Hirano then flew out but as he entered the dugout Greisinger threw his cap to the ground in a fit of pique. He had held the lead despite pitching poorly and really should have been quite satisfied with his performance. Tsutsui took Giants seventh and didn't do well. Sakamoto hit and then with two outs Ramirez hammered another home run. This was in exactly the same place as before and really brought into question Yano's calling 8-4 Giants. Kamei followed and hit his first pitch to right for a solo home run 9-4 Giants and the game was out of sight for the Tigers. Tani walked but finally Wakiya flew out to end the innings. In Tigers eighth Sekimoto hit to Wakiya who failed miserably to take the ball and he was safe on first. He made second on Kanoh's (pinch hitter and replacement catcher) ground out and then Brazell hit to right. Kamei put in a good throw and it was judged the Tsuruoka had tagged out Sekimoto. Replay's were inconclusive and one must conclude that the plate umpire was right and the innings was over. Tigers pitcher for the Giants eighth was Ishikawa who wasn't on form. He faced Tsuruoka who he struck out but with a wild pitch and Tsuruoka was able to run to first. Then Sakamoto got a two base hit which had a big element of luck in it. The centre fielder was Katsuragi and one has to ask what was Mayumi thinking. There is no way Katsuragi is a centre fielder. Tsuruoka rounded the bases for home only to be blocked by Kanoh who tagged him. The former waved his glove at the plate which was enough for the umpire rule him safe - a mistake 10-4 Giants, runner on second. With one out Ogasawara hit to centre and once again Katsuragi was useless. It is not that he is a bad fielder, just that he should not be fielding centre and Sakamoto was home 11-4 Giants, runner on second. The final batter Terauchi (replacement third) grounded out to end the innings. Tigers ninth saw Kroon return. He started by giving up a hit to Arai, which was ironic but the next three batters failed. We saw Mizuta as the second out and he was the only batter to show any resistance. Giants victory.

Tigers had been outplayed and Yano didn't seem to be match ready. This was shown by his replacement by Kanoh and by Kanoh starting the match the day after. Hirano once again was a live wire and superb in the field but one must wonder at the stupidity of putting Katsuragi in centre field. This was cruely exposed as a mistake.