May Day Standridge v Obispo - A surprising result

It wasn't that the Tigers won that was necessarily surprising but that the result was so crushing. Standridge's start was acceptable but he wasn't perfect. His best innings was in fact the fifth and though the second was also good he had worked himself into the mess. Scores

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

Starting lineups

Giants
1. Sakamoto (Short)
2. Wakiya (Second)
3. Ogasawara (Third)
4. Ramirex (Left)
5. Abe (Catcher)
6. Tani (Right)
7. Takahashi (First)
8. Chono (Centre)
9. Obispo (Pitcher)

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

Standridge was originally supposed to start on 2nd May but he was mowed forward in what proved to be a good decision by Mayumi. His first innings was not so good though. Sakamoto led off the innings with a two base hit.. Standridge was judged to have balked and then threw a wild pitch but luckily Sakamoto only moved round to third. Ogasawara walked but then Ramirez grounded out which brought the runner home 1-0 Giants, runner on first. Abe grounded out straight to Arai at third to end the innings. Obispo pitched quite well against the Tigers last year and his first innings seemed to indicate that this would contine. Batters fell 1-2-3 and the innings was quickly over. The Giants second was also similar. The Tigers second saw Obispo run into trouble. He started by dead balling Arai. Johjima hit to set up runners on first and third with no outs but Brazell struck out for the first out. Sakurai hit to left bringing home the runner 1-1 scores tied runners on first and second. Next up was Katsuragi who also hit nicely to left to and Johjima was safely home 2-1 Tigers, runners on first and second. Standridge of course struck out and Murton flew out to end the innings. Now Standridge had to protect his slender lead and he was made to work hard by the Giants. With one out he walked Sakamoto. Wakiya then hit (inconveniently for the Tigers) and Ogasawara walked to load the bases. This was a dangerous situation but Ramirez struck out. Abe hit a fly to left which was well taken by Katsuragi and the innings was over. Tigers third saw the Giants crumble. Hirano hit to right. He then stole second, the throw from Abe being too high and Sakamoto dropped it. Toritani punched one to centre 3-1 Tigers runner on first with no outs. Arai grounded out and Toritani made second. Johjima flew out and Toritani used the opportunity to make third. This brought up Brazell who took a swing at a slider putting it safely over the left gaia fence for a two run home run 5-1 Tigers and a commanding lead. Sakurai struck out but this would be the end of Obispo.

Standridge, of course, had to cope with the inevitable backlash. Tani hit his first pitch to left. Takahashi flew out but Chono put his third pitch perfectly in the gap between centre and third for a two base timely hit 5-2 Tigers runner on second. Kudo (pinch hitter) flew out and then Sakamoto managed a foul fly to end the innings. Already Giants had been forced to ditch their starting pitcher. Hoshino (pachimon) started Tigers fourth. He got the first out but then walked Standridge (a nice piece of judgement by the Tigers pitcher). Next up was Murton who drilled one just inside the right foul pole for a two run home run 7-2 Tigers. A bit of luck but they all count. The next two batters were out easily but Tigers were now in control. Murton's fifth innings was superb - just when needed the Giants batters were silenced. Tigers fifth was also quiet as Hoshino was much better. Now we come to an amazing innings which guaranteed Tigers victory. Standridge returned for Giants sixth and ran into trouble. Abe led off with a hit to right. The next batter, Tani also hit and Giants had runners on first and second. Takahashi hit driving in the run 7-3Tigers, runners on first and second. A mound conference followed which didn't really help as Chono hit a two base to right 7-4 Giants runners on second and third with no outs. Exit Standridge to be replaced by Nishimura. He started poorly and walked Yano to load the bases with no outs. Here the situation changed. Sakamoto was next and he swung at a pitch impetuously to fly out to Hirano. Then Nishimura struck out Wakiya looking for the second out - the bases were still loaded. The next batter was Ogasawara and before the at bat Johjima had a word with Nishimura. The final pitch of the innings lured Ogasawara into an ill-considered swing and Nishimura had rescued Tigers from a bases loaded no outs situation. A truely awesome innings. Tigers then proceeded to take full advantage of their escape. Kobayashi was the pitcher and he gave up a lead off hit to Sakurai. Yamato (pinch running for Sakurai) stole second and then was bunted to third by Shunsuke Fujikawa (replacement left). Kanemoto (pinch hitter) walked and Murton grounded out to Hohino who didn't take cleanly allowing Yamato home 8-4 Tigers, runner on second. Hirano flew out to end the innings but Tigers were now in control again.

For Giants seventh Mayumi sent Watanabe to the mound - a good move as Watanabe is a nice pitcher. He retired the batters in order and one sensed that any chance of victory was slipping away from the Giants. Tigers seventh confirmed this. With two out Johjima hit. Brazell hit a two base to right centre which brought Johjima home 9-4 Tigers, runner on second. Yamato hit to set up runners on first and third but then Fujikawas struck out looking to end the innings. Watanabe pitched Giants eighth and gave up a hit to Chono (who was having a superb game) but made sure that the batter didn't advance beyond first. Tigers eighth was pitched by Kaneto who retired the batters in order. For Giants ninth Mayumi showed some sense and used Tsutsui as his pitcher instead of Kyuji Fujikawa. He started by getting Wakiya to ground out but then walked Ogasawara. A wild pitch took Ogasawara to second but Ramirez struck out swinging. Ichikawa (replacement catcher) was next but he also struck out swinging. Tigers victory.

Tigers took the series - once again the Giants had been outclassed. Tigers pitcher, Standridge had done reasonably well and for his first start had picked up the win even though he had faded in the sixth. Obispo - who had owned Tigers in 2009 - had been exposed and wiped out by Tigers batting. Nishimura had been excellent and one is reminded of Nohmi in a similar situation against Lotte a few years back. Tigers had produced a superb victory against a very strong side.