July 2nd Messenger v Suda - Lady Luck smiles

Despite the scoreline this was actually a far more worthwhile victory than the night before. Tigers were challenged and had to fight hard to hold off a much more committed BayStars outfit. Suda was a better pitcher (though not by much) and Messenger despite some good stuff wasn't consistently good. It all made for a very interesting contest. Somehow Mayumi showed good judgement in not pitching Messenger into the sixth and Tigers were able to benefit from poor pitching and fielding by the BayStars. Scores

          1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R  H E
BayStars  0 0 1 1 1 0 0 0 1 4 11 2
Tigers    2 1 0 1 2 0 0 0 X 6 10 1 

Starting lineups

BayStars
1. Ishikawa (Short)
2. Morimoto (Centre)
3. Kinjoh (Right)
4. Murata (Third)
5. Sledge (Left)
6. Harper (First)
7. Watanabe (Second)
8. Takeyama (Catcher)
9. Suda (Pitcher)

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

BayStars first was rather quiet - both Ishikawa and Morimoto falling quickly. Kinjoh did last a bit longer but eventually succumbed, grounding out to Arai. Murton led off Tigers first by grounding out. Hirano then punched a hit along the first baseline where the ball just stayed in to be fair and rolled away into the corner - a two base hit. Toritani tried the same route but grounded out to Harper which did move Hirano to third. It really needed Arai to do something and he did -taking two strikes then dispatching the third into the left centre stand for a two run home run 2-0 Tigers. Brazell struck out to end the innings but Tigers were off to a good start. Both Murata and Sledge failed to do anything in BayStars second but Harper guided the ball nicely into left for a single. However, Watanabe struck out swinging to end the innings. Sekimoto grounded out and then Kanemoto struck out swinging in Tigers second before Fujii came to the plate. No one expected anything of him so it was a complete surprise when he turned his second pitch - an inside straight to left and over the fence for a solo home run 3-0 Tigers. This was his 7th career home run and his first for Tigers and at Koshien. He later said he was as surprised as everyone else when it went over but clearly was delighted. He may not be the best catcher but one can't help liking him for his cheerfulness and modesty. Messenger was the final batter of the innings and he struck out to a shell-shocked Suda. So far Lady Luck had smiled on Tigers but she is capricious and the very next innings she switched to the BayStars. Takeyama led off with a straightforward ground out to Toritani. All the Tigers short needed to do was pick up and throw - he was ideally positioned. Instead he let the ball roll between his legs into left field. Even the Koshien scorers had to rule that one an error. Suda bunted Takeyama to third and then Ishikawa grounded out to second with Takeyama making third. Messenger faced Morimoto who hasn't exactly been hitting well. Morimoto stretched for one and drove it into centre past Messenger's glove for a timely hit 3-1 Tigers, runner on first. Toritani had the decency to look suitably sheepish. Kinjoh (who had a good game) hit to left and BayStars had runners on first and second. Next was Murata and with the count at 1-2 Mesenger needed to do something. Ignoring Fujii he fired a fork into the zone - Murata accepted the challenge and struck out swinging to end the innings. With one out in Tigers third, Hirano hit a grounder to second. Watanabe fielded but then his throw to first was poor and pulled Harper off the sack allowing Hirano to reach first safely - Luck was back with the Tigers. This was somehow ruled a hit and not the error it should have been. Toritani flew out and then Arai strangely grounded out to third - it didn't seem the right ball to hit for the situation.

Messenger started BayStars fourth poorly. His first pitch was too high and hittable and Sledge dispatched over the right centre fence for a solo home run 3-2 Tigers. There were mutterings from the commentators about the hit being wind assisted but the only assistance the wind gave it was to stop the ball landing higher up in the stands. It was a very good hit. Messenger was beginning to bleed runs. Both Harper and Watanabe grounded out to second and then Takeyama fouled out to Brazell to end the innings. BayStars were getting close. Tigers needed to open the gap and luckily Suda was still pitching. Brazell hit to centre and then Sekimoto followed with a centre hit. Kanemoto then hit straight to short but was able to beat the double play throw. Replays showed that the umpire had gotten it wrong and that Kanemoto was out. Luck to the Tigers. Brazell was on third and it was all up to Fujii. He bunted his second pitch along the first baseline for a squeeze. Takeyama directed the throw to first as Brazell touched home behind him. 4-2 Tigers, runner on second. This was very intelligent play by the Tigers catcher who was having a great day with the bat. Messenger then flew out to right to end the innings. BayStars bounced back in their fifth. Shimozono (pinch hitter) led off with a rather fortunate hit, Obana deciding to replace Suda. Ishikawa hit to centre as well - runners on first and second. Morimoto bunted them to second and third which brought up Kinjoh. He banged one deep into right for the sacrifice fly 4-3 Tigers, runner on third. Murata drew a full count walk which left things up to Sledge. He drove into left but Toritani took the liner to end the innings. Tigers still held the lead. Kosugi replaced Suda for Tigers fifth. Kosugi is a poseur - all elegant smooth movements and an overly tight uniform. Murton played around with him a bit before hitting to left. Hirano bunted Murton to second and then Obana decided that it was time to change pitchers. Kosugi didn't look happy but went quietly. Ohhara replaced him and this was a disaster. Toritani hit his first pitch deep to right where it hit the fence about 10 cm from being a home run. Murton was home and Toritani set off round the bases barging Murata out of the way as the relay came into third. The ball went wild and Toritani set off for home. Sledge picked up and threw parallel to third base line to home. As he was about two metres away from the base line Takeyama had to pull off a superb dive to take the ball but Toritani slid into home safely 6-3 Tigers and the killer blow. Lady Luck certainly smiled there. Arai then hit a grounder to Murata who missed the ball and this was ruled an error. Obana roled his eyes to the heavens, as if to ask why me? Brazell was next and Arai stole second easily. Brazell struck out and Sekimoto walked. It was all down to Kanemoto who did his usual trick and grounded out to second to end the innings. Mayumi then needed a link man and the pitcher chosen was Fukuhara. He brought some good stuff with him that day and BayStars sixth started with Harper striking out to some fine pitching. Watanabe though was able to drive a two base off his third pitch. Fukuhara stayed cool and struck out Inada (pinch hitter) before Nakamura (pinch hitter) grounded out to Toritani to end the innings. Ejiri replaced Ohhara and retired the first two batters before Murton hit a two base. Hirano though struck out swinging - he was miles away from the ball when he swung and one wonders what he was thinking.

BayStars seventh was pitched by Enokida who did very nicely helped by some fine fielding at left by Asai (replacement left). One hit by Morimoto looked certain to be useful but Asai took it cooly right by the fence - one can't imagine Kanemoto doing that. Ushida pitched Tigers seventh and with two out gave up a single to Brazell. This didn't come to anything as Sekimoto struck out swinging. Obana was being forced to use his better pitchers rather than his rookies just to stay in the chase. After his bout of gastroentiritis one was a bit worried about Kobayashi who pitched BayStars eighth. Murata led off and hit deep to right where Murton pulled off a superb diving catch going towards the fence with the ball coming over his shoulder. Lady Luck was smiling on the Tigers. Sledge drove into right centre for a two base hit. Harper hit to right and Hirano (having replaced Sekimoto at second) pulled it out of the air for the out. Finally, Kobayashi struck Watanbe out to end the innings. Fujie pitched Tigers eighth. He struck out Asai but then walked Fujii. This didn't come to anything and Fujii stayed on first and the next two batters. So to BayStars ninth and Fujikawa. This was a formality - right? Not quite, Fujita (pinch hitter) struck out swinging but then Naitoh (pinch hitter) hit to right for a single. Ishikawa was next and he rather luckily bounced one over Fujikawa and past Toritani for a single. Runners on first and second. Ishikawa was forced out by Morimoto's grounder to second but the double play didn't come off. Next was Kinjoh who swung wildly and succeeded in depositing the ball in the right corner for a very lucky two base hit. Lady Luck had smiled on the BayStars 6-4 Tigers, runners on second and third. Would Murata spoil the party and seize an unlikely lead for the BayStars. He couldn't and flew out to Hirano for the final out. Tigers victory.

A very nice contest with a lot of luck and some good play. The heroes were Fujii and Arai who looked happy and comfortable. Fujii seems to have been accepted as a member of the team and not Mayumi's protegee which is nice as he is a likeable person. It is also good to see Arai hitting again. Messenger picked up the win and now has five of them to only one loss. Fujikawa recorded his 17th save despite having pitched a bit below his level. BayStars had competed more but still need a little extra to challenge. They are a level below other sides and cannot hide this.