August 6th Kubo v Kawai - Shi no rodo suspended

Tigers managed the usual consolation win of a losing three game series. However, it wasn't quite that - they used the Dragons as doormats taking apart their star 11-0 pitcher in two innings. After that it was just a cruise and the question was would Kubo manage his second complete game shutout in a row. This didn't quite come off but it was still a fine piece of pitching. Kawai also pitched seven innings which was surprising given that he was so dreadful in the first two. But then when Tigers destroyed Nakata, he wasn't taken out until the third. Most managers would have removed Kawai after the first but Ochiai made the mistake of leaving him in and putting the game out of the Dragons reach. Once he had done that there was no point in taking him out of the game and he actually pitched quite well especially as Ochiai also changed his catcher to Oyama. Scores

         1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R  H E
Tigers   5 3 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 9 13 0
Dragons  0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 2 11 1

Starting lineups

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

Dragons
1. Ibata (Short)
2. Araki (Second)
3. Morino (Third)
4. Blanco (First)
5. Wada (Left)
6. Fujii (Centre)
7. Nomoto (Right)
8. Tanishige (Catcher)
9. Kawai (Pitcher)

Kawai was in trouble from the word go. He got Hirano to fly out but then gave up a hit to Yamato. He then balked and this took Yamato to second. Here his pitching went to pieces and he walked Toritani. There then followed a series of two base hits. First Kanemoto hit to right 1-0 Tigers runners on second and third. Arai hit to left 3-0 Tigers runner on second. Brazell hammered one to right centre 4-0 Tigers, runner on second. Sakurai hit to left centre 5-0 Tigers runner on second. Kanoh fflew out in what would be a poor night with the bat ffor him (but a great night behind the plate) and then Kubo struck out looking to end the innings. Dragons first saw Araki hit with one out but then he tried to steal second and was thrown out. Kubo then struck out Morino to end the innings. He is now pitching with much more confidence and seems to have a bit extra to call on in most difficult situations. Tigers second was almost as devastating as the first. Hirano led off with a hit and then stole second. Yamato though grounded out to Kawai who threw to third to get Hirano out. Yamato was safe on first and advanced to second on an error at short, Toritani taking first. Kanemoto flew out to Morino in foul ground and then Tigers engineered a double steal, runners on second and third with Arai next up. He was something like his old self and worked the count full before stroking the ball into the left stand for a three run home run 8-0 Tigers. Brazell hit to centre and Sakurai followed with a hit to left, runners on first and second but once again Kanoh couldn't convert and the innings ended with his ground out to short. Dragons second was a 1-2-3 innings with everyone grounding out. Tigers third saw the replacement of Tanishige by Oyama behind the plate and this brought an immediate improvement in the pitching Tigers batters falling 1-2-3 as well. Nomoto led off Dragons third with a hit but stayed on first as Kubo retired the next three batters comfortably. This would be the course of the Dragons innings, they would get hits but wouldn't be able to convert them.

Tigers fourth started with a hit to Toritani. One out later Arai hit again and drove Toritani round to third. However, Brazell hit into a double play to end that chance. Dragons fourth saw Morino manage a single but he also stayed on first and nothing came of this. In Tigers fifth it was Sakurai's turn to lead off with a hit. Kawai unleashed a wild pitch which took him to second but the next three batters were unable to convert and the innings was scoreless. Dragons fifth was quiet as the batters fell to some fine pitching by Kubo. Kawai who was just about surviving walked Yamato to start the Tigers sixth. Kanemoto's hit set up runners on first and second and then Arai hit a sacrifice fly 9-0 Tigers, runner on first. Brazell struck out to end that innings. The first real threat to Kubo came in the bottom of the sixth. Ibata hit to right and with two outs Morino hit to centre and there were runners on the corners. Once again Kubo was up to the challenge and struck out Blanco swinging to end the threat and the innings.

By now Ochiai had finally decided that Kawai was not a good idea as pitcher and replaced him with Nelson for Tigers seventh. Kawai had thrown 120 pitches for his six innings and never looked comfortable. He should have been pulled after his disastrous first innings as keeping him in had put the game compeletely out of the Dragons reach and handed them an embarrassing defeat. Nelson started nervously and walked Sakurai. Another wild pitch took Sakurai to second but then Nelson settled down and retired the next three batters to escape the innings without damage. Wada started Dragons seventh with a hit. Fujii's ground out took him to second. Nomoto flew out in foul ground and it looked like second was as far as Wada would get but then it was Kubo's turn to unleash a wild pitch. This took Wada to third and Oyama then worked the count full. Kubo and Kanoh were up to this threat and final pitch induced Oyama to swing for the strike out and the innings was over. Masato Kobayashi replaced Nelson for Tigers eighth and was that rare item in this game, a calm Dragons pitcher. He retired the batters in order. Kubo returned for the Dragons eighth with visions of a compelte game but it was not to be. Hidenori (replacement centre) led the innings off with a centre hit. One out later Araki hit to right and the Dragons had runners on first and second. A dead ball loaded the bases which brought up Blanco. This time Kubo couldn't get the out and Blanco hit to centre driving in two runs 9-2 Tigers, runners on second and third. Here Kubo showed he still had fight enough, Koike was induced to fly out to Toritani, no run and then Fujii grounded out to second to end the innings. The pitcher for Tigers ninth was Takahashi - he had a quiet innings with no one reaching base. For the final innings, Mayumi sent Watanabe to the mound. Kubo wasn't going to get the complete game so there was no reason to make him pitch an extra innings. He had given up hits but apart from the eighth innings when he was tiring had kept the Dragons from scoring and shown once again that he is a fine pitcher. He looks as if he is enjoying his pitching and really Tigers got a real bargain with their trade of Hashimoto. Watanabe got the first two outs but then gave up a hit to Hidenori. A hit from Ibata followed to set up runners on first and third but Araki flew out to end the innings. Tigers victory.

A comprehensive thrashing of the Dragons fully redeemed the Tigers after their two earlier defeats. The scale of the victory was impressive and Mayumi was very happy. Arai drove in six runs on three hits and Kanemoto, Brazell and Sakurai also had multiple hit games. This doesn't mean that Tigers will improve though they should use this game as a morale booster. Kubo was once again impressive and has now won his last five decisions. He looks to be adjusting to the Central League well especially as he is paired with a good catcher. It is probably time for Tigers to think about retiring Yano as Kanoh has blossomed out into a very fine presence behind the plate.