May 3rd Nohmi v Tohno - Triple back to back

For the first time since 2003 Tigers hit three runs in a row. For the cleanup it was the first time since 1985 and the famous triple at Koshien. This time it was Tokyo Dome as the Giants played their first game since the earthquake. Every batter who hadn't hit a home run this season managed one in this game and Nohmi pitched a blinder. Even so 9 innings was perhaps a bit too much. Scores

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

Starting lineups

Tigers
1. Murton (right)
2. Hirano (Second)
3. Toritani (Short)
4. Arai (Third)
5. Brazell (First)
6. Kanemoto (Left)
7. Johjima (Catcher)
8. Shunsuke (Centre)
9. Nohmi (Pitcher)

Giants
1. Sakamoto (Short)
2. Wakiya (Second)
3. Ogasawara (First)
4. Ramirez (Left)
5. Chono (Centre)
6. Kamei (Right)
7. Ryal (Third)
8. Tsuruoka (Catcher)
9. Tohno (Pitcher)

Tigers first started quietly - Murton grounded out but then Hirano hit. He diddn't get anywhere and the Tigers innings was scoreless. Giants first was even more moribund than the Tigers as Nohmi contained the first three batters with ease. Tigers second saw Brazell fly out and then Tohno left one in the zone for Kanemoto to hit. The old warrior gratefully accepted the zone and slammed the ball over the wall for a nice home run to right 1-0 Tigers. The next two batters grounded out but Tigers had surprised the Giants. Nohmi who was pitching well kept the Giants second nice and quiet with no runner reaching base. Things looked good for Tohno in the Tigers third - he got the first two outs and faced Hirano for the second time. Hirano hit but so what? The count to Toritani was full when the Tigers short got hold of a nice fat pitch and deposited it in the left stand for a two run home run 3-0 Tigers. Next was Arai. Whilst Toritani had gone right, Arai went left and slammed the ball into the left stand or Tigers side. Tigers fans were really happy 4-0 Tigers. Then it was Brazell's turn - his home run was hit to right and cleared the wall easily for another home run 5-0 Tigers and a triple back to back. Kanemoto struck out looking but Tigers were out of sight. Giants third saw the first two batters fall easily but then Nohmi got careless and gave up a solo home run to right to Tohno 5-1 Tigers. This really was careless and led to a hit from Sakamoto the very next at bat. Wakiya though hit straight to Nohmi to ground out and end the innings. A reminder to Nohmi that even with a big lead he had to be careful.

Tohno managed to do quite well with Tigers fourth retiring the batters in order. Unfortunately for Giants Nohmi returned the complement starting with Ogasawara who is two hits away from his 2000th hit. Tigers fifth saw both Murton and Hirano fall before Toritani hit a nice two base to left. Next was Arai who hit over infield safely for a scoring hit 6-1 Tigers and one wonders why Tohno wasn't replaced at this stage. Still he managed to get the final out of the innings with Brazell grounding out to first. Giants fifth was quiet as Nohmi remained in control. Tigers sixth started with a Kanemoto hit to second - Wakiya proving just as ineffective as he always is. He was extinguished in a Johjima double play and then Shunsuke grounded out to second to end the innings. Giants sixth was also quiet.

Hara finally saw the light in Tigers seventh and replaced Tohno with Takagi. Tohno had not pitched well and to say he struggled would be an understatement. He had been overwhelmed. Takagi struck out Nohmi and then Murton before finally getting Hirano to ground out. Nohmi returned for Giants seventh and got Ogasawara to ground out to second. He will have to wait a bit longer for his milestone even though this was on the TV coverage's mind. Ramirez hit a very nice two base to left and advanced to third on Chono's ground out. However, Kamei hit deep to centre where Shunsuke took a good catch to end the innings. Tigers eighth saw Arai hit with one out. Brazell hit to right to set up runners on first and third. Kanemoto hit a ground out to second and Giants tried to turn the double play. They got Brazell (who has shaved off his beard) but Kanemoto was safe. In the meantime Arai was home 7-1 Tigers, runner on first. Johjima hit to Takagi with the ball rebounding off his leg and ending up being fielded by Ryal - runners on first and second. Shunsuke followed but he managed to ground out to Shunsuke to end the innings. Giants eighth was once again quiet as the batters fell in order. Albaladejo took Tigers ninth and did well retiring the batters in order. The fact that he struck out Nohmi as first batter indicated that Nohmi would pitch the Giants ninth. This was strictly speaking unnecessary but Nohmi no doubt welcomed the complete game. Unfortunately, the Giants ninth didn't go quite the way it was planned. Three outs were expected but the Giants weren't about to lie down - Sakamoto leading off worked the count full and then banged a solo home run into the left stand 7-2 Tigers. Next was Yano (pinch hitter) who hit to left for a two base. Ogasawara struck out and Ramirez flew out to centre. It began to look like the Tigers would only give up one run this innings. This was not to be as Chono hit to centre for a timely hit 7-3 Tigers runner on first. Giants fans began to get really excited especially as Chono stole second. However, Kamei hit to Hirano for the final out. Tigers victory.

Maybe it wasn't necessary for Nohmi to pitch the Giants ninth but Tigers were always in control of the game from the third. The rare triple back to back was a fine piece of batting and at Tokyo Dome established a level of dominance which will be difficult for the Giants to stomach. Nohmi had pitched very well and fully deserved his hero interview. The good thing is that batters who hadn't been driving in the long ball did so and this is another encouraging sign for Tigers.