April 1st Iwata v Miura - A far more competent performance

In the pre-season games I noted that Fujii had been responsible for more runs than Komiyama though now the situation is reversed. At the moment there have been five runs while Fujii has been callng and eight runs while Komiyama has called. So is Fujii actually the best catcher for first team games? Actually no - Komiyama's calling is still more perceptive and intelligent than Fujii and even in the seventh today Komiyama never looked out of his depth whilst Fujii did in the eighth. Plus Komiyama had to deal with Fujihara as a pitcher (which makes one wonder how the latter made the first team this year). Iwata was wayward and the BayStars were a considerable improvement on the previous night. They actually looked like a competent team and Miura whilst not at his best was so near it made no difference. One thinks that Tigers relief is definitely weaker this year and with a new manager this is going to cause problems. Scores

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

Starting lineups

BayStars
1. Kajitani (Short)
2. Ishikawa (Second)
3. Koike (First)
4. Nakamura (Third)
5. Kinjoh (Right)
6. Morimoto (Left)
7. Aranami (Centre)
8. Kurobane (Catcher)
9. Miura (Pitcher)

Tigers
1. Hirano (Second)
2. Shibata (Centre)
3. Toritani (Short)
4. Arai (Third)
5. Johjima (First)
6. Kanemoto (Left)
7. Itoh (Right)
8. Komiyama (Catcher)
9. Iwata (Pitcher)

Kajitani started things off by flying out to left. Ishikawa though drew a walk but then tried to steal second. Komiyama's throw was excellent and Ishikawa was out. Koike hit a grounder to third and was the final out. Tigers first was also quiet. Miura looked his old self and the Tigers batters struggled to find any chink in the armour. Iwata started the second well striking out Nakamura looking and then getting the next two batters easily. Miura had everyone fly out with Kanemoto snatching at his pitch to fly out to short. The batters fell in order in BayStars third and the side had fallen in order. Itoh led off the third and struck out looking to a fine pitch by the BayStars veteran. However, with two out in Tigers third, Miura unaccountably walked Iwata. Hirano was then induced to ground out to first and the innings was scoreless.

Things started to unravel for Tigers in BayStars fourth. The first out was straightforward - Kajitani being lured into flying out to left again, unintelligent batting by the BayStars lead off. Ishikawa grounded out to first but then Koike hit to right. Komiyama had called for a low pitch but Iwata had been too high. Next was Nakamura and with the count at one strike Komiyama called for a high pitch. Iwata was too low and Nakamura hit left setting up runners on first and third. Still nothing to really worry about especially as Kinjoh hit a grounder straight to Arai. He really fluffed the take and Koike was home 1-0 BayStars, runner on first and second. Morimoto drew a walk to load the bases but then Aranami flew out to Johjima in foul ground to end the innings. A one run lead is not anything to worry about but Tigers didn't seem able to raise themselves. Arai did single with two out in Tigers fourth but Miura struck out Johjima to end the innings. Kurobane started BayStars fifth by flying out to right but surprisingly Miura singled to centre. Kajitani grounded out forcing out Miura but Tigers couldn't turn the double play and Kajitani was safe on first. He tried to steal second but once again an accurate throw from Komiyama stopped this and also ended the innings. Tigers fifth was quiet with the batters falling in order. The same happened in BayStars sixth with Iwata striking out two on his way to three outs. Tigers first real chance came in their sixth. Iwata struck out but then Hirano hit to right. Shibata flew out to short which brought up Toritani. He hit nicely into the right corner and Hirano raced round the bases but was held up on third. Maybe he should have tried for home. Tigers had runners on second and third with Arai next. Here was a chance for him to redeem himself but with the count at 2-2 he fell to a superb outside pitch from Miura and the innings was scoreless. Tigers had failed to convert a good chance.

BayStars made them pay for it. Kinjoh led off with a lucky swing which carried over the wall for a solo home run to left 2-0 Tigers. As I said this was pure luck but it unsettled Iwata who gave up a two base hit to Morimoto. Aranami was next and he hit to centre to set up runners on first and third with no outs. It was the end of Iwata who clearly couldn't continue. He was replaced by Cheng who faced Ramirez. He tried to go outside as much as possible but was forced to come inside as well. Ramirez was ready and dug one out nicely to centre for a timely single 3-0 BayStars, runners on first and third. BayStars picked up a very good signing in Ramirez. Miura followed and failed in his three bunt attempts for the first out. Things were rescuable at this stage but Wada made his big mistake and brought on Fujihara in place of Cheng. Fujihara has always looked weak and today was no exception. Kajitani also dug out a weak pitch for a single 4-0 BayStars runners on first and third. Ishikawa tried a squeeze and was successful, Arai standing far too back to intercept 5-0 BayStars. Koike then hit left as well and Kanemoto picked up and threw. The throw had the power but drifted and Komiyama couldn't tag the runner 6-0 BayStars. Nakamura singled to set up runners on first and third but then Kinjoh grounded out to second. This had been a devastating innings for BayStars who were now clearly in the driving seat. Miura returned for Tigers seventh and gave up a lead off hit to Johjima. Next was Kanemoto and here Miura stumbled. His second pitch was a nice fat ball in the middle of the zone, an appalling pitch quite out of keeping with his pitching up till then - you don't serve these up to Kanemoto. The Tigers left hammered the ball high into the right stand for a two run home run 6-2 BayStars. Two outs followed but then Ryota Arai singled. Tigers fans began to hope but Hirano was induced to ground out to second to end the innings. Morimoto led off BayStars eighth pitched by Tsuru with a single but was forced out by Aranami. He stayed there as the next two outs fell. Ohhara took Tigers eighth and after a struggle with himself walked Yamato (replacement centre). Tsuruoka walked over to him and had a word pointing to the scoreboard and no doubt saying no need to worry but it made no difference. Ohhara walked Toritani in four completely unable to locate his pitches at all. Runners on first and second with no outs and BayStars quickly changed the pitcher bringing on Kaga. He faced Arai who swung and flew out to right. Then Johjima hit into a double play to end the innings. Tigers had merrily dug themselves deeper into the hole. Tsuru returned for BayStars ninth and retired the batters in order. For Tigers ninth Nakahata chose Yamaguchi. With Tigers prepared to swing he had a rather easy job striking out first Kanemoto but then walking Itoh. Next was Hiyama(pinch hitter) who also struck out and finally Brazell (pinch hitter) who swung at a high ball he should have left. Brazell threw his bat away in disgust but that was the end of the innings. BayStars victory.

BayStars deserved their victory (sad to say). They had played better than Tigers who frankly had looked pretty weak with the bat. They had their luck but used it well while Tigers wasted their chances. The decision to use Fujihara in a clinch situation was very strange to say the least and shows Wada's judgement to be rather questionable. Iwata hadn't been sharp enough and this had given the BayStars openings. Still one can't help wondering how the game would have gone if Arai hadn't dropped the take.