June 18th Nohmi v Kawai - Called game

The Hanshin/Hankyu shareholders meeting lived up to expectations with lots of criticism of Mayumi, Kanemoto and Sakai. The continued practice of using Kanemoto in the left field was questioned and there were calls for Sakai-owner to step down. Mayumi was heavily criticised as well. These comments received a lot of applause from the assembled shareholders. Minami-president was most aplogectic saying sorry for causing so much trouble. Translated this means 'We're going to do nothing'. After the meeting Mayumi said that Tigers would have to silence the critics by winning. If only it were that simple. Last night's game did neither - played in appalling conditions and eventually abandoned it demonstrated the problems with Mayumi Tigers who couldn't even overcome a poor Rakuten. Tigers will finish the inter league series with no series wins - some ties but no wins. Scores

               1 2 3 4 5 6  7 8 9 R H E
Golden Eagles  2 0 0 0 0 0        2 6 0
Tigers         0 0 1 0 0 0x       1 6 1

Starting lineups

Golden Eagles
1. Teppei (Right)
2. Hijirisawa (Centre)
3. Matsui (Short)
4. Garcia (First)
5. Kusano (Third)
6. Takasu (Second)
7. Yokogawa (Left)
8. Shima (Catcher)
9. Kawai (Pitcher)

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

Kanemoto was once again held out of the side this time due to the wet conditions. If this isn't an admission of how worthless he has become I don't know what is. Golden Eagles again went with Kawai who didn't relish the conditions. Neither did Nohmi and he started Rakuten's first by giving up a lead off hit to Teppei. Hijirisawa struck out but then Matsui got an inside straight which he swung at just managing to put it inside the pole for a two run home run 2-0 Golden Eagles. Garcia struck out but Kusano hit to third where Arai messed up - runner on first but conditions were terrible already. Takasu hit to centre to set up runners on first and second but then Yokogawa struck out swinging to end the innings. Apart from the luck of Matsui's home run Rakuten had once again struggled. Tigers though also struggled at first. Kawai had owned them in the previous outing and started well retiring the batters in order. Shima led off Rakuten's second with a hit to left. Kawai tried to bunt him to second but was out with three failed bunts. Teppei flew out to short and Hijirisawa grounded out to Nohmi. Tigers second saw Kawai begin to struggle. With one out Brazell hit a two base to right centre. Sekimoto drew a walk and Tigers had runners on first and second. Next was Fujii but he is not a number 7 batter and he flew out to right. Shunsuke then grounded out to short. Tigers are distinctly weak below No. 6 in this lineup. Rakuten's third and Matsui drew a lead off walk, Nohmi not wishing to challenge him again. He stayed on first as the next three batters all fell in order. Nohmi started Tigers third by grounding out. Then Murton hit a three base to right centre. About this time the heavens really opened - it was impossible to play baseball and the players all came off. There was a wait of 54 minutes before play was resumed. Hirano drove nicely into centre and Murton was home 2-1 Golden Eagles, runner on first. It really needed Toritani or Arai to do something but both failed miserably and the one run was all that was scored.

Yokogawa led off Rakuten's fourth with a single. After Shima forced him out, Shima was bunted to second by Kawai but then Teppei. flew out to right. Brazell started Tigers fourth by flying out but then Sekimoto hit to left. Fujii followed this with a hit to centre and Tigers had runners on first and second. This was the signal for a pitching change Koyama replacing Kawai. He faced Shunsuke and Nohmi, both strikeout victims and the innings ended up scoreless. Shunsuke after a bright start is really struggling with his hitting and one wonders why he is preferred to Lin (answer, a Mayumi favourite). Hijirisawa led off Golden Eagles fifth with a hit. Matsui forced him out with a second ground out. Matsui was able to steal second but the last batter Kusano grounded out to end the innings. Murton walked to lead off Tigers fifth. One out later Toritani hit to left and there were runners on first and second. Arai grounded out to Koyama who threw to second to initiate the double play. This didn't come off and Arai was safe on first with Murton on third. This was a big chance and brought another pitching change, Arime taking the mound for Golden Eagles. He got Brazell to swing to early and fly out to second and that chance was gone. Nohmi retired the batters in order in Rakuten's sixth - a rare comfortable innings. However, he had thrown 101 pitches getting to that stage. Sekimoto was due to lead off the Tigers sixth but once again the heavens opened and the players trooped off. The umpires waited 17 minutes and decided that they had better call it a night - called game. Rakuten victory.

Matsui's home run had proven enough. Mayumi did mumble that if the game had continued Tigers could have won. Maybe but they once again wasted situations with runners on. Murton continues to shine but other players seem to blow hot and cold. For Mayumi he needs to do more work if he is to silence his critics.