September 2nd Iwata v Masubuchi - Not good for the Swallows

Takada is hoping that Ishikawa will come through for the Swallows in the final game of the series and they will snatch a win. A gap of four games is better than a gap of two games even though it means a series defeat. This is why Masubuchi pitched but was outclassed by the Tigers batting. Once again Mayumi over-pitched Iwata, putting him in for seven innings when his pitch total was 104 at the start of the seventh. He didn't pitch that well and looked tired after the third innings. Swallows bats were more active this game which should lead to an exciting third game of the series. Mayumi's handling of the relief was better this time without the panic of the previous night but Abe has been sent down to the second team again and Sajikihara brought up. This is probably a move to save the coaches faces after their screw up in starting the former in two games. Sakurai is out with a thigh strain but this is not too serious. Scores

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

Starting lineups

Swallows
1. Fukuchi (Left)
2. Hiroyasu Tanaka (Second)
3. Aoki (Centre)
4. D'Antona (First)
5. Iihara (Right)
6. Miyamoto (Third)
7. Keizoh Kawashima (Short)
8. Aikawa (Catcher)
9. Masubuchi (Pitcher)

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

Kubo was replaced by Katsuragi before the game started

The first three Swallows innings would see Iwata at his best. He started by retiring the batters in order in the first. Masubuchi started poorly and got worse. With Akahoshi out in Tigers first he walked Hirano. Toritani hit and Tigers had runners on first and third. Kanemoto saved the Swallows pitcher with a double play but it was just a stay of execution. Swallows second followed the pattern of the first, the batters falling in order. Tigers second was where Masubuchi unravelled. Arai hit and then made third on Brazell's hit. Katsuragi hit a two base to right 1-0 Tigers runners on second and third (Brazell not being the fastest runner on the field). Kanoh was walked to get at Iwata but he wasn't going to try anything as stupid as a squeeze play and went for the sacrifice fly. This worked 2-0 Tigers runner on first and second. Akahoshi hit to load the bases again but HIrano grounded out to end the innings. In Swallows third, Iwata polished off the final three batters of the Swallows line up. Even though he would tire these three innings were vital in preventing the Swallows gaining momentum. With Tigers third, Kanemoto walked with one out. Arai grounded out which brought up Brazell and he hammered a two run home run 4-0 Tigers. Katsturagi then struck out to end the innings but Tigers were in a commanding lead.

Swallows managed to trim this back in their fourth as Iwata tired and they stepped up the pace to try and get back in the game. With one out Tanaka ( who had three hits) hit a two base. Another out followed and then D'Antona hit to left driving in Tanaka 4-1 Tigers, runner on first. Iihara hit to left as well and Swallows had runners on first and second but then Miyamoto with a great sense of timing rescued the Tigers by striking out. Kanoh led off the Tigers fourth with a hit. Iwata was next and tried to bunt but messed this up and was out. Finally, Kanoh stole second after waiting for Akahoshi to do something but Hirano once again failed with runners on and the innings was scoreless. Swallows fifth was quiet and this was another welcome break for Iwata. Tigers fifth was lively to say the least. Kanemoto walked and then two successive pitches took him to third. You were hoping for a sacrifice fly but Arai walked which brought up Brazell. He struck out and then Katsuragi was walked to load the bases. Swallows were selecting their batters and had arrived at Kanoh expecting him to fail and the innings to end scoreless. Kanoh didn't oblige and slammed a bases clearing double to left 7-1 Tigers, runner on second. Finally, Swallows found their final out that of Iwata who struck out but the game was out of sight. Iwata though was tiring and even though he would hold the lead would wipe out Kanoh's good work. With one out Tanaka and Aoki had consecutive hits. D'Antona struck out but Iihara hit to left driving in a run 7-2 Tigers runners on second and third. Then Miyamoto was next and hit the tiring Iwata to centre driving in another two runs 7-4 Tigers, runner on first. Iwata finally managed to strike out Kawashima to end the innings. It wasn't so bad - Swallows had scored three runs but Tigers still had a big lead and it would be difficult to overturn. Masubuchi didn't return for the Tigers sixth which was hardly surprising as he hadn't pitched well. His place was taken by Matsui who proved unable to stop the rot as it were. He started with a two base hit to Akahoshi. Hirano's two base took him to third and then Toritani hit his third home run in as many games 9-4 Tigers. Kanemoto struck out and Arai grounded out but Tigers were back in control in grand style.

Iwata returned for the Swallows seventh was risky decision to say the least. The sixth should have been his final innings. It wasn't necessary to add another 20 pitches to his count because Mayumi can't handle the relief pitching. He started wtih a hit to Aikawa and then with two out gave up another hit to Tanaka. One began to have visions of a repeat of the Swallows sixth but Aoki was a bit too keen to hit and grounded out to second - a lucky escape for Iwata. Mayumi really needs to stop over-pitching him and try to work to a pitch limit of around 100. Tigers seventh was quiet, Matsui having recovered from the shock of giving up a home run. In the Swallows eighth Mayumi bowed to the inevitable and replaced Iwata with Kanemura. He was very assured retiring the batters 1-2-3. Kamada pitched the Tigers eighth and started with a lead off hit to Asai. Akahoshi managed to force him out with a ground out to short but was safe himself. He then tried to steal second and in an unusual development was out as Hirano struck out. For the final innings Mayumi showed some good sense and picked Tsutsui which is what he should have done the night before. Why does he have to learn the same things from scratch every series? Tsutsui did walk Aikawa with one out but then retired the next two batters to end the innings. Tigers victory.

A good victory which gave the Tigers the series and guaranteed a four game gap between them and the Swallows. Takada will use Ishikawa in the hope he can salvage one win from this series which has been disastrous for the Swallows. They have been outplayed in every department so far and really need to work hard to avoid the deficit reaching two. It is going to be a hard fight for the Tigers to win the third game - sweeps are difficult.