July 30th Kubo v Miura - Miura outclassed

Miura didn't pitch badly last night - in fact he was very good and on any other night would have probably walked away with the victory. However, Kubo was in a different class showing his best ever pitching for the Tigers and his first complete game shutout since 2005. He only allowed two hits and struck out 12, all in 125 pitches. He wobbled slightly in the third and fourth innings but really was dominant throughout the game. Tigers have now won the last three games and Mayumi picked up his first three game sweep but it is still too soon to say that the team has turned the corner. Scores

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

Starting lineups

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

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

The game would generate very few scoring opportunities and so it was up to the teams to take advantage of these when they came. Tigers would be better in this respect. BayStars first was quiet, Shimozono struck out for the first of Kubo's 12. Tigers first was much more productive. Akahoshi hit and then stole second. This would prove to be a vital steal as Sekimoto's bunt took him to third and created a scoring chance for the Tigers against a pitcher they really struggle against. Toritani then hit a fly to right and Akahoshi took the chance to make home 1-0 Tigers. Kanemoto struck out to end the innings with a small advantage. Kubo needed to protect this slender lead and he did so effectively striking out Murata and Johnson as he retired the batters in order. Likewise Tigers second was also quiet with Miura collecting two strike outs as well (he would end the evening with nine). In BayStars third Kubo gave up his first hit, to Miura of all people, with two out. He then struck out Shimozono to end the innings. Tigers third was quiet and Miura collected another brace of strikeouts.

Kubo's greatest challenge and BayStars only scoring chance came in the top of the fourth. With one out Uchikawa hit to left (BayStars last hit). Kubo then got nervous and dead balled Murata to set up runners on first and second. As Johnson struck out Uchikawa tried to steal third but was thrown out by Kanoh (who was once again superb behind the plate) and the innings was over and with it the BayStars only chance of threatening the outcome of the game. In Tigers fourth Miura gave up a two out centre hit to Kanemoto but got Arai to ground out and end the innings. BayStars fifth was quiet and Kubo struck out another two finishing the innings by getting Hosoyamada to strike out looking. In Tigers fifth Brazell grounded out to his first pitch but Kanoh punched one nicely into the right centre sweet spot for a three base hit. Hirano was next and hit to right driving Kanoh home 2-0 Tigers, runner on first. Kubo bunted Hirano to second but Akahoshi flew out to end the innings. Once again Kubo protected the lead very well, getting two batters to ground out and Fujita to fly out and end the innings. Tigers sixth started with a lead off walk to Sekimoto but Miura kept him locked on first striking out both Toritani and Kanemoto.

Kubo continued serenely on in the BayStars seventh. He struck out Murata and Johnson for the second time after having gotten Uchikawa to ground out. Miura who hadn't demonstrated such good control since the fifth ran into trouble in the Tigers seventh. He faced Brazell who led off with a hit. Miura then dead balled Kanoh to set up runners on first and second with no outs. This time he was able to lift his game and retired the next three batters without the runners advancing, some very fine pitching. Kubo returned for the BayStars eighth and with his pitch count over 100 the question was could he manage to maintain the shutout. He added another strike out to his collection, that of Yoshimura and still looked in control. Miura also managed very well in Tigers eighth, retiring the batters 1-2-3. And so to the BayStars ninth with Kubo dominant and just needing three more outs. Kinjoh (pinch hitter) he got to fly out to Kanoh in foul ground. Then Shimozono flew out to right. For the final out Kubo finished with a strike out, Saeki fell swinging to end the innings. Tigers victory.

Kubo had been awesome and fully earned his hero interview after the game. Ably supported by Kanoh he had controlled the BayStars completeley only allowing one scoring chance. Tigers had taken two out of their three scoring chances in what had proved a very hard fought game. Against Miura the batters had once again struggled but this time they had had the advantage of good pitching.