April 29th Uezono v Barnette - Perseverence wins the day

This was a nice result to pick up. Tigers have split the two rain abbreviated series one apiece with the BayStars and the Carp. The latter series was due to Mayumi's incompetence and so one didn't really have high hopes that the Tigers would take this series. However, a fine performance and so many hits that the feeble Carp Swallows pitching enabled the Tigers to win. Of course having the best relief in the league also helps. Scores

          1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R  H E
Tigers    0 0 0 1 0 3 1 0 0 5 12 1
Swallows  0 3 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 4  7 2

Starting lineups

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

Swallows
1. Tanaka (Second)
2. Miyamoto (Third)
3. Aoki (Centre)
4. Guiel (Right)
5. Iihara (Left)
6. Muranaka (First)
7. Fujimoto (Short)
8. Aikawa (Catcher)
9. Barnette (Pitcher)

Barnette had pitched well against Tigers in his previous start and would continue to do so. Tigers first was quiet and the batters fell easily 1-2-3. Uezono was not on his best form and in fact would struggle before being replaced. With two out in Swallows first he walked Aoki. Aoki stole second which was unnecessary as Uezono walked Guiel as well. However, Iihara struck out looking to the end the innings. In Tigers second, Arai grounded out to short but the throw was messed up and he was safe on first. Johjima managed to hit into a double play but Brazell rescued things with a hit. Sakurai though failed to convert and the innings was scoreless. With one out in Swallows second Fujimoto hit. Aikawa then drilled a two base hit to left (Kanoh's positioning being none too good). Uezono contrived to walk Barnette to load the bases. Tanaka mishit to third but it was still enough for the runner on third to make home 1-0 Swallows, runners on first and third. Next to the plate was Miyamoto who put his three base hit into right, over Sakurai and both runners motored home 3-0 Swallows, runner on third. This was not looking good for the Tigers. Aoki flew out but the damage had been done. Kanoh led off Tigers third with a hit and was bunted to second by Uezono. He made third on Murton's ground out then was joined on base when Hirano walked. It was all down to Toritani but he flew out to left to end the innings. Swallows third was quiet as the batters fell in order.

Tigers fourth saw Arai fall to a centre fly. Johjima then hit nicely to left for a solo home run 3-1 Swallows. Brazell hit and Sakurai produced a two base out of the hat to set up runners on second and third. Things looked promising with one out but Kanoh struck out. Kanemoto (pinch hitter) walked to load the bases which left it all up to Murton. He couldn't respond and the innings finished with no further score. Having used Kanemoto in place of Uezono, Mayumi needed a new pitcher for Swallows fourth. This proved to be Tsutsui who was effective retiring the three batters he faced comfortably. Tigers fifth saw Hirano hit as Barnette started to fade. Toritani walked but then Arai hit into a double play which did, however, move Hirano to third. This time Johjima walked to set up runners on first and third but Brazell proved to be the final out, striking out swinging. In Swallows fifth, Miyamoto hit to left. Kanoh made a complete dogs dinner of the take and throw and Miyamoto was able to reach third. With only one out Aoki hit a sacrifce fly 4-1 Swallows and it began to look as if the Swallows would win this. Guiel was the final out of the innings, popping one up to Johjima. Tigers weren't dead yet and with Barnette continuing to fade took full advantage of the situation. With one out Kanoh hit to right. The next batter Hiyama (pinch hitter) also hit to right to set up runners on first and second. Murton put his hit to right bringing hom Kanoh 4-2 Swallows. At this point Takada (Swallows manager) decided to change pitchers but it didn't do him any good. Matsuoka immediately gave up a hit to Hirano which brought Shunsuke Fujikawa (pinch running for Hiyama) home 4-3 Swallows runners on first and second. Toritani struck out looking but Arai hit. His bat broke in the process but he was able to put the ball into centre field for yet a further hit 4-4 scores tied, runners on frist and second. Johjima grounded out to third but the Swallows were reeling. Tigers having drawn level needed to ensure that they stayed there and so their pitcher was Nishimura. With one out he gave up a hit to Takeuchi (replacement first). Takeuchi made third on Fujimoto's fly but then Nishimura struck Aikawa out swinging to prevent any score.

Matsuoka gave way to Masubuchi for Tigers seventh. Brazell led off with a hit. With one out Kanoh hit to Masubuchi who messed up the throw allowing runners on first and second. Katsuragi (pinch hitter) walked to load the bases which brought up Murton. He grounded out to first but this gave Brazell just enough time to get home 5-4 Tigers, runners on first and third and a complete reversal of the game. Hirano also grounded out but Tigers had the lead. With the seventh Tigers entered the Kubota/Fujikawa zone. Kubota did give up a lead off hit to Ueda. Tanaka bunted him to second and a Miyamoto ground out moved the pinch hitter to third. However, one would not bet against Kubota getting the final out and so it proved with Aoki also grounding out to end the innings. Tigers eighth was pitched by Oshimoto who retired the batters in order. Kubota returned for Swallows and here the victory was really cemented. At his best, the Tigers relief struck out Guiel looking, Iihara swinging and then induced a flyout from Takeuchi. Two very nice innings. Hashimoto pitched Tigers ninth and retired the batters in order. The Swallows ninth still had a moment of drama to come. Fujimoto led off the innings and he hit to left. Sakurai (who had moved over to left) allowed the ball to get under him as he slid to field it. Fujimoto was safe on third base with no outs. This was of course a very promising situation for the Swallows. Fujikawa induced a ground out to short from Kawamoto (pinch hitter). The next batter D'Antona (pinch hitter) struck out. Over on the Tsubamegun website they seem to think that D'Antona was ill-treated. Sorry, guys all he had to do was bang the ball deep for a sacrfice fly. He failed and was outclassed and there was nothing wrong with Takada asking him to perform that role. Finally, Tanka flew out to end the game. That had been awesome pitching and a well deserved victory for Tigers.

Fujikawa picked up his seventh save and the hero interview. He had recovered well but the Tigers had shown a magnificent fighting spirit. They hadn't let the three run lead get them down and had fought back. The Swallows had blinked first and their current poor run continued. Tigers can look forward with some confidence and they seem to be building momentum at the moment.