September 9th Iwata v Tateyama - Errors again

A game which had it all - poor umpiring (and the team of umpires was abysmal) and poor fielding. The Swallows didn't so much win the game as Tigers hand it to them with their errors gifting runs at crucial points. Once again Kanemoto found time to argue with the umpire - one wonders how long it will take him to realise that the umpire is not going to change his mind and the argument is futile. After seeing Shunsuke start at centre in the previous game we were back with Shibata at centre. Whatever, Shunsuke's faults he is a far better fielder and batter and he is the one who should be starting not the inadequate favourite. One would think that putting your best side out against the league leaders would be the logical course of action but it seems not. Scores

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

Starting lineups

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

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

Tigers started quietly with Hirano flying out to left and the useless Shibata lining out to second. Then Toritani drove one nicely into left for a two base hit. Next was Arai who hit long and deep for a striaght home run 2-0 Tigers. Murton hit to right but flew out. Aoki led off Swallows first with a two base hit to right - a bit streaky but safe. He was bunted to third by Tanaka - hardly a good move. Kawabata was next and hit weakly into the infield. Arai and Iwata both went for it with Arai fumbling and dropping the ball allowing Aoki to make home 2-1 Tigers, runner on first. Hardly very good work. Hatakeyama hit to right to set up runners on first and third but then Iihara hit into a double play to end the innings. One could only hope the error was a one off. Sekimoto grounded out to second but Lin in his first game back hit nicely to right. This was ruined by Fujii who's in a slump at the moment. He hit into an innings ending double play. Swallows second was also quiet, the batters fell in order with Balentien striking out dramatically. Tigers third saw Hirano and Iwata fail again. In Swallows third Aoki had his second hit of the night - this one far more assured but only a single. He did make second on Tanaka's ground out but then Kawabata also grounded out to end the chance.

Tateyama was pitching quite smoothly and well and got both Toritani and Arai before Murton hit his first pitch to left. Murton managed to steal second and one can only say that Aikawa was asleep on the job. Tateyama wasn't though and struck out Sekimoto to end the innings. Hatakeyama led off Swallows fourth with a two base hit. Iihara grounded out to Iwata who in an unusual bit of good fielding (for that game) threw to Sekimoto to tag out Hatakeyama going for third. Miyamoto grounded out to short but the double play didn't come off and there was still a runner on first. Next was Balentien who with a mighty swing (and it was a mighty swing) deposited the ball well into the left stand for a home run 3-2 Swallows. Not a good pitch. Finally, Aikawa flew out to right to end the innings. Tigers then failed to respond in their fifth where Tateyama held the lead well. Tateyama led off Swallows fifth flying out to right and then Aoki grounded out to first. Tanaka hit to centre but Kawabata hit to first where Arai took a very sharp catch low down to end the innings. With one out in Tigers sixth Shibata walked. This wasn't due to any particularly good judgement on the part of Shibata, just some incredibly poor pitching by Tateyama - almost Sugiyama level in fact. Toritani flew out to left and then Arai hit his first pitch deep into centre. This was a good hit and looked another home run but was caught by the wind and taken by Aoki. A lucky escape for the Swallows. Hatakeyama led off Swallows sixth by flying out to centre. Then Iihara hit towards Watanabe (who had replaced Iwata on the mound) breaking his bat as he did so. The bat flew to Watanabe who avoided it easily and had an easy take for the out but fumbled and messed up the take. This allowed Iihara to reach second. Miyamoto hit a grounder to second which took Iihara to third. Tigers deliberately walked Balentien rather than risk another home run and then Aikawa flew out to left to end the innings and the threat.

Now came Tigers lucky seventh - Jingu isn't quite so exciting now that jettos are banned. Tigers seventh was quiet - no one did anything and the innings was over quickly and quietly. Kojima pitched Swallows seventh and pitched a blinder. Tateyama struck out swinging and then Aoki and Tanaka both struck out looking. Kanemoto (pinch hitter) led off Tigers eighth and struck out looking. He did not agree with the decision and argued with the plate umpire for a while. It made no difference and was all a waste of hot air. Next came Hiyama. He hammered a two base hit into right centre. This brought a pitching change with Tateyama being replaced by Kyuko. He faced Hirano and whilst he did so Yamato (pinch runing for Hiyama) stole third. Hirano walked and Tigers had runners on first and third. Uemoto (pinch hitting for Shibata. If a pinch hitter is needed for Shibata it is a recognition that he is no great shakes with the bat) swung at his first pitch and flew out to second. Finally Toritani struck out looking to end the innings. Tigers had blown the chance to draw level. Fukuhara replaced Kojima for Swallows eighth and gave up a hit to Kawabata. He was pinch run for by Miwa. Next was Hatakeyama who hit deep into left, the ball bouncing off the fence. Lin's throw was good and reached Sekimoto who turned to throw to home. Miwa had stopped on third but the ball flew out of Sekimoto's hand bobbling away towards the mound. Miwa took the chance and raced home 4-2 Swallows with Hatakeyama taking third in the confusion. Tigers fielding at Jingu this year has been interesting. Whitesell (pinch hitter) struck out swinging and then Miyamoto flew out to left but not far enough for the runner to get home. Balentien was walked again and finally Aikawa flew out to short to end the innings. Lim pitched Tigers ninth and they still haven't found an answer to his pitching. Batters tumbled in order with Arai lining out to short, Murton striking out and Sekimoto also striking out. Swallows victory.

Tigers fielding was not up to standard this game. The errors were costly and apart from Arai the batting didn't shine. The poor batting one can live with the errors one can't as they represented the margin of the Swallows victory. Tigers need to tighten up as they have the beating of this Swallows side. Less of Shibata and Fujii as well - neither are hitting and Fujii in particular is just killing opportunities.