August 14th Iwata v Ryo Kawashima - Almost the 1990s

Tigers were heading for a comfortable victory - in fact the winning out was on it's way and Kyuji had turned to talk to his colleagues when Shibata dropped the ball. This set in train a wild innings in which error followed error and the Swallows came within an ace of pulling off an incredible victory. Tigers just held on and whatever can be said about Uemoto, he is growing into the role. Shibata though does not look ready at all and maybe another option at centre is needed to cover Hirano. Still Tigers hung on and have now taken 5 out of 6 off the Swallows with three more games to play in August. So far for shi no rodo they are 4-2 for the first week and 3-3 for the second week. With the next series at Kyocera Dome and following that the BayStars Tigers do have a good chance to finish the road trip ahead. Things are looking much better than they were earlier in the season but it will mean another season of Mayumi if they do well. You can't have everything it seems. Scores

          1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R  H E
Tigers    0 0 2 0 1 0 0 0 5 8 16 3
Swallows  0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 6 7 11 1

Starting lineups

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

Swallows
1. Aoki (Centre)
2. Keizo Kawashima (Short)
3. Tanaka (Second)
4. Hatakeyama (First)
5. Miyade (Left)
6. Miyamoto (Third)
7. Balentien (Right)
8. Aikawa (Catcher)
9. Ryo Kawashima (Pitcher)

Things looked promising for Tigers right from the start. With one out Hirano hit to right. Then Toritani hit to set up runners on first and third. Arai was next but he flew out to short, Brazell walked and the bases were loaded. Kanemoto did what Kanemoto does best and flew out, this time in foul ground to end the innings. OK - a waste and more proof that Kanemoto should not be in the side anymore but it was a bright start and surely the runs would come. Ryo Kawashima wasn't looking particularly good. Iwata started with a single to Aoki who was bunted to second by Keizo Kawashima. Neither Tanaka nor Hatakeyama could do anything and the innings was scoreless. Tigers second was quiet - it was the bottom of the order and the last batter was Iwata so this was to be expected. Swallows second was also quiet as the rejigged order failed to fire and no one reached base. Things changed in the Tigers third where the expected runs started to come. Murton led off with a drive to left that generated two bases. Hirano hit to first and was able to make base safely - runners on first an third. Toritani hit deep to left for the sacrifice fly 1-0 Tigers, runner on second, Hirano having moved round. Next was Arai and with everyone expecting a single he hit over Aoki for a timely two base 2-0 Tigers, runner on second. Brazell grounded out to first moving Arai round to third and then Kanemoto flew out to left to end the innings. Tigers had a good two run lead. Iwata needed to protect it and with one out faced Morioka (pinch hitting for Ryo Kawashima). He hit to centre and then Aoki hit a grounder to second. This was messed up badly by Uemoto who's throw was wayward and the runners were able to reach second and third safely. Keizo Kawashima grounded out to third and Arai was able to lock Morioka on base before throwing to first for the out. Then Tanaka wen the same route and Arai did the rest to end the innings. The Swallows were fighting back but hadn't managed to put it all together yet.

Akagawa took over for the Tigers fourth and facing the bottom of the order had no real problem retiring them. Iwata had another struggle in Swallows fourth though. Miyade hit to centre with one out and then with another out down, Balentien hit to short and was able to beat the throw - runners on first and second with two outs and Aikawa next. The night before he had hit a two base driving in runs but this time grounded out off his second pitch to Toritani to end the innings. Tigers managed to get another run in their fifth. Hirano hit to second and was able to beat the fielder.Toritani hit left and set up runners on first and third. Arai struck out but Brazell drove into left for a two base 3-0 Tigers, runners on second and third. The next batter was Kanemoto who flew out to the catcher this time but Tigers had pulled nicely ahead. Iwata was still wobbly and walked Aoki with one out. Keizo Kawashima grounded out but then Iwata dead balled Tanaka. He let go a wild pitch which took the runners to second and third and then walked Hatakeyama to load the bases. One out needed and this came in the form of Miyade who grounded out to Toritani. Tigers could breathe a sigh of relief. Iwata would retire after this innings and just as well - he had had runners on almost every innings he had pitched with the exception of the Swallows second and they had all been multiple runners except the first. Matsuoka took over for Tigers sixth and this time Tigers managed to fluff the scoring chance. Fujii hit to right and was followed by Murton hitting to centre to set up runners on first and second. This brought a pitching time and Kyuko took over the pitching duties. Hirano was next and this time he failed to hit striking out swinging to end the innings. Watanabe replaced Iwata and with one out left a pitch invitingly placed for Balentien to hit. A solo homer was the resut 3-1 Tigers and at last Swallows had got a run on the board. Aikawa singled to left but Takeuchi (replacement left) hit into a double play and the innings was over.

Tigers seventh was quiet and the batters fell in order. For Swallows seventh we saw the return of Enokida. He struck out Aoki and Keizo Kawashima but then gave up a hit to Tanaka. However, he then struck out Hatakeyama for the final out and a nice return to the top team. Oshimoto was secure in Tigers eighth and the batters fell in order again. With the Swallows seventh we had moved into elite relief territory and so it was no surprise that Kobayashi pitched Swallows eighth. Miyamoto singled to right with one out but stayed on first as Kobayashi was secure. So to the ninth and probably Kyuji to close off and record the victory. It had been a tight game but Tigers had kept things under control and Swallows hadn't been able to convert their chances. Sibata led off with a hit to left and then Murton hit to short who messed up the chance allowing runners on first and third with no outs. Hirano drove left bringing Shibata home 4-1 Tigers, runners on first and second. It also brought a change in pitcher with Barnette taking over, not that he was any improvement. He did get Toritani to fly out but Arai hit right to load the bases. Next was the big man - Brazell who drove fiercely into right bringing in another two runs 6-1 Tigers, runners on second and third. Shunsuke hit to second which allowed a run to score from third 7-1 Tigers, runner on third. Mayumi sent Hiyama to the plate and he hit his first pitch into centre 8-1 Tigers, runner on first. Fujii hit to right and Tigers had runners on first and third. This brought yet another pitching change and Watanabe replaced Barnette. Ogawa also decided that a new catcher was a good idea and Kawamoto took over. This had the desired effect and the final out (that of Shibata) fell shortly after but what an innings. Tigers were now in complete control and so instead of Kyuji Mayumi decided to use Fukuhara. If this wasn't Fukuhara territory (a seven run lead) I don't know what was. Fukuhara then proceeded to screw everything up in a stunning display of bad pitching. He walked Takeuchi on a full count to lead off Swallows ninth. Aoki grounded out to short forcing out Takeuchi but making first himself safely. Next was Whitesell who belted the ball straight into the back screen for a two run home run 8-3 Tigers but still nothing to worry about. Fukuhara though wasn't finished and walked Tanaka. Hatakeyama hit to first and was able to make base safely - runners on first and second. Then Miyade hit right and the bases were loaded, Tanaka not going for home. This was the end of Fukuhara who had not done well. A bases loaded situation even with a five run lead in the ninth is a Fujikawa situation and Mayumi did the right thing. Fujikawa started well and struck Miyamoto out swinging - things were back on track and going exactly to plan. Two outs and Balentien next. He swung wildly and lifted the ball into centre were it fell nicely into the glove of Shibata at centre but it didn't Shibata dropped the ball for a bases clearing error 8-6 Tigers, runner on second. Kawamoto followed and an obviously disturbed Kyuji threw a wild pitch which Fujii missed - Balentien scampered home 8-7 Tigers and things were close. Tigers were now in headless chicken mode and Arai dropped the take that Kawamoto so kindly hit to him. Mayumi was staring stunned and he certainly had every right to be so. Miwa (pinch running for Kawamoto) stole second but Kyuji didn't let that affect him and struck out Takeuchi for the final out. Tigers could breathe a sigh of relief - victory.

It had been a good victory to win though the manner of its accomplishment hadn't been so impressive. Shibata doesn't belong in the top team and even though the chance he had wasn't easy it was straightforward and one a top team centre should take. The ninth had seen a total of 11 runs scored and most of the Swallows runs had been because of Tigers fielding errors when they didn't need to happen. The win went to Iwata who also must have had his heart in his mouth. Kyuji picked up his 27th save and after the game Shibata had given him a full 90 degree bow of apology. Kyuji was magnanimous - why not but the fielding coaches will no doubt have words with Shibata. Tigers are now four games behind the Swallows and can be said to own the Tokyo outfit. As long as they keep things tight over the next two series then they have a chance of building a bit of momentum but keep things tight they must.