May 12th Shimoyanagi v Shinoda - Tigers bats explode

This was a much more satisfactory result - Tigers hammered out four extra base hits and four home runs as the offense finally got going. Shinoda was terrible but then so was Shimoyanagi and the main difference was that Mayumi showed very good tactical sense (this time he did well) in pulling Shimoyanagi quickly. Nomura didn't pull his pitcher nearly so soon and paid for it heavily. The game was played in the most appalling conditions - the outfield was waterlogged and can only be described as treacherous in the extreme. Rain fell heavily for most of the match and one expected the game to be called after the fifth but it went the distance. Watanabe picked up his first ever career hit and RBI in his what was his fourth plate appearance of his career. It was a nice hit but showed just how poorly Shinoda pitched. Johjima also managed his 1000th career hit (Japan and MLB) and did it in style with a solo home run. Scores

        1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9  R  H E
Carp    2 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 0  4  6 0
Tigers  3 3 3 0 0 1 1 0 X 11 13 1

Starting lineups

Carp
1. Soyogi (Short)
2. Higashide (Second)
3. Hirose (Centre)
4. Tracey (Third)
5. Kurihara (First)
6. Iwamoto (Left)
7. Ioh (Right)
8. Ishihara (Catcher)
9. Shinoda (Pitcher)

Tigers
1. Murton (Right)
2. HIrano (Second)
3. Toritani (Short)
4. Arai (Third)
5. Brazell (First)
6. Kanemoto (Left)
7. Johjima (Catcher)
8. Shusuke (Centre)
9. Shimoyanagi (Pitcher)

The game started in poor conditions with the outfield resembling a marsh - one almost expected to see waterbirds settled happily round the running track. The skies were clear but this didn't help Shimoyanagi who lacked control. He started Carp's first by walking Soyogi. Higashide bunted Soyogi to second and then Hirose hit to left. As he went to take the ball Kanemoto fell over and allowed the ball to role past him. Conditions out there were really bad and to manage to stay on your feet was an achievement. Anyway Soyogi was home safely 1-0 Carp, runner on third with HIrose getting round on a throwing mess up. Shimoyanagi then dead balled Tracey which made things more interesting. Kurihara hit deep to right for the sacrifice fly 2-0 Carp, runner on first before Iwamoto grounded out to short ending the innings. Shinoda then took the mound and previously he has owned the Tigers. He started by walking Murton though. Murton was bunted to second by HIrano which brought up Toritani. By now Shinoda's pitching was going to pieces and his second pitch was hammered into right centre where it bounced off the join between the wall and the fence for a two base timely hit 2-1 Carp, runner on second. This just missed being a home run. Next was Arai who who lofted another slider to left. This also looked like a home run but died in the end and hit the Koshien wall just behind Iwamoto who had gone right back. Toritani was home and Arai was able to make third 2-2 scores tied. A dramatic fight back. Brazell followed and grounded out to second but giving Arai enough space to make home 3-2 Tigers. Finally Kanemoto snatched at one to end the innings. Shimoyanagi didn't pitch well in the Carp second either but managed to retain enough control to emerge from the innings scoreless. He got the first two outs and then Shinoda walked. Next was Soyogi who also walked, runners on first and second. Fortunately, it was Higashide who hasn't been hitting well recently next and his run of poor form continued with a groundout to second which ended the innings. It was about now that the heavens decided to open and so Shinoda pitched Tigers second in the rain. He retired Murton but then walked Shunsuke. Shimoyanagi bunted Shunsuke to second and a wild pitch took him to third. Murton walked and Hirano stroked his first pitch into the left centre sweet spot bringing home both runners 5-2 Tigers, runner on third. Toritani hit left and Hirano was home 6-2 Tigers, runner on first as Tigers took Shinoda apart. Arai hit to left runners on first and third. Brazell struck out swinging but you thought that this must be the end of Shinoda. Shimoyanagi returned for Carp's third and he too found conditions difficult. He started with a two base hit to HIrose. Tracey flew out to right which took Hirose to third and then Kurihara flew out to second. It began to look like Carp would be scoreless. However, Iwamoto hit his first pitch nicely to right centre for a two base hit. Hirose was home 6-3 Tigers. Here Mayumi acted and pulled Shimoyanagi replacing him with Watanabe. Watanabe did very nicely striking out Ioh to end the innings. The warning signs had been there and Carp should have also replaced their pitcher. All they did was complain about the state of the mound which was remedied by the addition of more sand. It is possible that Shinoda really wanted to be out of the game because he was just as awful in Tigers third as in the preceding two innings. He faced Kanemoto who hit his fourth pitch along the right baseline for a nice solo home run 7-3 Tigers, Then came Johjima who hit along the left baseline - another solo home run and hit number 999, 8-3 Tigers. Shunsuke then tried to hit one deep but this fell short of the fence. It was however a nice three base hit but with Watanabe next. It was a surprise to see Watanabe batting - he does this so rarely and he has never hit. Shinoda though was easy meat and Watanabe hit nicely between first and second for a timely hit 9-3 Tigers, runner on first. Finally, Nomura acted and replaced his pitcher who was totally worthless by now. Imamura took the mound and he then retired Murton, Hirano and Toritani in order to end the innings but Tigers were in complete control.

Watanabe then had a smooth top of the fourth with a slight scare on the final out. Soyogi hit to right centre where both Murton and Shunsuke went for it with Murton taking the ball in the end. Tigers fourth was also quiet as the batters seemed to be taking a breather. The rain though continued to bucket down and it seemed that the game was drifting towards being called. Higashide led off Carp's fifth and fluffed his shot which rolled forward. Johjima managed to retreive and threw nicely to first for the out. The other batters also did nothing with Tracey being nicely struck out by Watanabe. Tigers fifth was also quiet with Sekimoto (pinch hitter) striking out to end the innings. Both sides would change their pitchers in the sixth as the game did not get called. Mayumi went with Kojima who looked slightly uncomfortable in the conditions and gave up a hit to Kokubo (pinch hitter) with two outs. Ishihara swung wildly at his first pitch though which came down in foul ground where Brazell plucked it out of the air for the final out. Tigers sixth was pitched by a rookie, Iwami. He started by leaving one hanging for Murton to hit over the fence for a solo home run 10-3 Tigers. Hirano walked but this time Toritani and Arai could do nothing. A wild pitch took HIrano to second and Brazell took a big swing but flew out to right to end the innings.

Kojima also pitched Carp's seventh and once again ran into trouble with the final out walking Higashide. However, once again he was able to get out of the jam, this time by very neatly luring HIrose to line out to Hirano. Lin (replacement left) led off Tigers seventh by flying out but then Johjima hit high along the third baseline for another solo home run - his second of the night and his 1000th hit 11-3 Tigers. This one just made it but was inside the foul pole. Shunsuke then hit to third and beat the throw to reach first safely. However, Tigers couldn't move him round and the innings ended with Murton lining out. For Carp's eighth we saw Fukuhara who, it must be admitted, has been pitching well. He faced Tracey and the Carp third took a huge bite out of a full count curve. This used to be Fukuhara's best ball but now seems to be very hittable. The ball was caught by the right field wind but still had enough momentum to make it over the fence for Tracey's first home run in Japan 11-4 Tigers. Fukuhara retired the following three batters in order and even the solo home run didn't blemish the margin which was still huge. Schultz faced Hirano as lead off for Tigers eighth and got him to ground out. Toritani bounced the ball over Schultz and then beat Higashide's throw to reach first safely. Arai went deep to left but this time Iwamoto took the catch and then Brazell grounded out to end the innings. Carp's ninth brought on Kobayashi who looked a lot more relaxed this time. Still, with one out Amaya (replacement centre) stroked one to left. Lin couldn't take and Amaya reached second safely. Soyogi flew out to short and then Higashide tried to hit left where Lin took the catch to end the game. Tigers victory.

Comprehensive and crushing is the only way to describe the victory. Tigers had shown their power in a very complete way - demolishing Shinoda in three innings. Of course, one has to question Nomura's wisdom in pitching Shinoda in the third when he had already given up six runs. Watanabe picked up the hero interview and had certainly had a very exciting and rewarding night. Tigers need to build on this victory - they have the talent to do this again and again and need to release it more often.