July 11th Messenger v Ohka - Brazell gets angry

Back from my holidays and finding that things have gone well for Tigers ((I actually followed the games over the internet) and the Giants have entered a mini-meltdown. Firstly the bad news is that Futagami is likely to debut the first team next season. His arm is still giving him trouble and he will not be fit to pitch until October. Yano is beginning to throw again so thoughts must turn towards bringing him back - a retrograde step if ever there was one. Tigers are now 0.5 games behind Giants with the next series being at Koshien (one couldn't write a better script for a movie). They overwhelmed an incompetent BayStars side in nice fashion getting to Ohka quickly but benefiting from fielding that was truely abysmal. Scores

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

Starting lineups

BayStars
1. Shimozono (Centre)
2. Ishikawa (Short)
3. Uchikawa (Right)
4. Murata (Third)
5. Sledge (Left)
6. Harper (First)
7. Fujita (Second)
8. Hashimoto (Catcher)
9. Ohka (Pitcher)

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

The big question was how would Messenger fare? Would he be able to pitch well enough? His first start was decent enough without giving any indication that he was going to become a wonder pitcher or that he was going to fail. He retired the first two batters in BayStars order before Uchikawa (who had a very good game) hit. Murata walked to set up runners on first and second but Messenger was equal to the challenge of Sledge and got him to fly out to left. Ohka had been rather battered by Tigers last time he faced them but like this time started well. The first three batters fell in order. BayStars second saw some much better pitching by Messenger and he also retired his three batters in order. Arai flew out to lead off Tigers second and then Brazell hit a mighty blow to right centre for a solo home run, his thirtieth 1-0 Tigers. Ohka was so surprised he left one in the zone for Johjima to hit and the Tigers catcher did just that banging the ball over the left fence for another solo home run 2-0 Tigers. Lin and Asai couldn't do anything but things didn't look good for the BayStars who needed to get back into the game right away. Messenger made sure they didn't keeping the batters off base and off balance in the third. Then followed an error ridden performance of such incompetence that one has to say its not surprising the BayStars are bottom of the Central League. Firstly, Messenger hit a fly to left which Sledge dropped - runner on first. Toritani hit to set up runners on first and second. Hirano hit straight to Ohka who threw to second to initiate the double play but Ishikawa missed the take and the bases were loaded. Murton hit to right bringing home a runner 3-0 Tigers, bases loaded. Then Arai hit a grounder to second who popped the ball up to Ishikawa for the force out but BayStars short then threw the ball over first for another error. Two Tigers were home and Arai was safe on second 5-0 Tigers. Brazell hit to right to bring home Arai who slid in nicely behind Hashimoto and tagged home safely before the BayStars catcher could make the tag 6-0 Tigers, runner on first. Finally, Johjima hit into a double play to end the innings though the amazing thing was that Yokohama were actually capable of turning a double play after that performance.

BayStars really did need to do something and Uchikawa led off their fourth with a sweet solo home run to left centre 6-1 Tigers. Murata hit to right but then Sledge struck out and the momentum died. Harper hit into the double play to end the innings. Tigers fourth saw Ohka still on the mound maybe because he hadn't been responsible for most of the runs in the disastrous third. He gave up a hit to Asai who tried to steal second. Why can never be known for sure as Asai is not the fastest round the bases but the spirit of enterprise is to be admired. He was out as Messenger struck out to end the innings. Once again BayStars tried to mount an offensive in their fifth. However, with two out before Kinjoh (pinch hitter) hit it was always going to be difficult. His hit was to right followed by a hit from Shimozono. Ishikawa though to emphasise the awful game he was having blew the chance by grounding out to first and ending the innings. Bootcheck took over for Tigers fifth and also ran into trouble. He gave up a two out left hit to Murton. Arai followed this up with a hit of his own which put runners on first and third. Brazell this time struck out swinging to end the innings. BayStars sixth saw Uchikawa leading off again and once again he faced Messenger. This time his shot was possibly even better driving his first pitch into the centre stand for another solo home run 6-2 Tigers. Two outs later Harper walked but Fujita grounded out to end the innings. Lin hit to right and Kanemoto (pinch hitter) walked. He is now joint fifth on the NPB all time walks list and only needs another to become sole possessor of fourth place. Toritani had runners on first and second but this time grounded out to end the innings.

Mayumi had decided that six innings was enough for Messenger on his first full start. He had protected a lead competently enough without showing any particular brilliance. He was replaced by Nishmura who had an easy time of the BayStars seventh retiring the batters in order. Ejiri took over for Tigers seventh and gave up a nice two base hit to Hirano. Murton grounded out but Arai hit nicely to centre to bring Hirano home 7-2 Tigers, runner on first. With Brazell next BayStars switched to Katoh who looks like a nasty little punk. He let fly a head high pitch rather close to Brazell and then a couple of pitches later aimed one at Brazell's rather ample midriff. This was enough for Brazell who had been hit in the head when playing for Seibu. He dropped his bat and advanced to the mound. Johjima and the plate umpire joined by Hashimoto managed to restrain Brazell and the BayStars bench also emptied. The whole incident petered out innocuously but BayStars second, Fujita ambled over to Katoh and seemed to say do that again and we'll let him take your head off. Whatever the conversation, Katoh kept his pitches firmly on the outside and struck Brazell out looking. He was then replaced by Takasaki who got Johjima to fly out to left to end the innings. Watanabe pitched BayStars eighth and walked Uchikawa. Sledge hit to set up runners on first and second but then Watanabe struck out Harper to end the innings. Tigers eighth saw Asai hit but he managed to get himself caught off base for the final out. Uezono took BayStars ninth and was in his usual I don't care mode. He walked Hashimoto and then Ohnishi (pinch hitter) before letting go a wild pitch which took the runners to second and third. Shimozono hit a sacrifice fly to left making the score 7-3 Tigers, runner on second. Then Ishikawa hit a fly to left and the game was over. Tigers victory.

A comfortable victory based on a series of errors by the BayStars fielders of which Tigers took full advantage. Tigers had dominated the match and never lost control. One has to ask what was that idiot Katoh thinking, throwing at Brazell. Generally BayStars don't indulge in that kind of thing and it is to be hoped that Katoh is reigned in. The jury is still out on Messenger but we have to hope it is not a flash in the pan. Tigers though are playing confidently and well and with the return of Nohmi and Iwata later in the season are looking well placed.