April 6th Nohmi v Sawamura - A masterpiece

Nohmi didn't prosper on opening day with Fujii but paired with Komiyama produced one of the best performances of his career with complete game shutout on two hits. Tigers initially struggled but were able to start to add singles and significantly were able to exploit a tiring Tohno and a weak relief. Giants bats couldn't get into the game thanks to Nohmi and Tigers fans went home happy. Scores

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

Starting lineups

Giants
1. Sakamoto (Short)
2. Bowker (Left)
3. Chono (Centre)
4. Abe (Catcher)
5. Murata (Third)
6. Takahashi (Right)
7. Ogasawara (First)
8. Takaguchi (Second)
9. Sawamura (Pitcher)

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

With Tigers back home, a full crowd and the old enemy the scene was set for an exciting game. Nohmi started Giants first nervously by walking Sakamoto on a full count. The latter was bunted to second by Bowker but got no futher with Chono striking out - the first of Nohmi's 10 strike out victims and Abe hitting the ball back to Nohmi for the final out. Sawamura also started well and the first three Tigers went down in order. The Giants second was much more secure by Nohmi and the three batters were out in order. Tigers second was also quiet - if Nohmi was at his best so was Sawamura (at least in the initial stages). With two out in Giants third Sakamoto came round for his second at bat and singled left, in fact the first hit of the game. Bowker was next but he could only ground out to Hirano for the out. Tigers third was quiet, Tigers batters had fallen in order with the final out being Nohmi who struck out looking.

Giants fourth saw Nohmi really get going and the Giants clean up was dispatched with ruthless efficiency. Tigers batters showed signs of life in the bottom with Shibata singling to right with one out. Toritani walked and Tigers had runners on first and second with only one down. A double play was possible but Sawamura preferred to strike out both Arai and Brazell. Takahashi led off Giants fifth with their second and last hit. He then tried to steal second on Ogasawara's strike out but a thunderbolt from Komiyama ensured that he didn't make it. Takaguchi struck out to end the innings. Sawamura seemed to be losing focus and Murton led off Tigers fifth with a single. Kanemoto followed and Tigers had runners on first and second again, this time with no outs. Komiyama bunted them round to second and third but with the next batter being Nohmi a score wasn't likely and Nohmi struck out. Hirano followed and singled nicely to centre. This brought home Murton 1-0 Tigers with Kanemoto also trying for home. He was tagged out though but it was nice enterprise by the veteran. Giants could mount no challenge in their sixth though - by now Nohmi had a stranglehold on the game and the batters fell in order. Shibata flew out to start off Tigers sixth but Toritani singled and made second on a Giants throwing error. Once again neither Arai nor Brazell could do anything and no score resulted. But Sawamura was clearly vulnerable now.

Giants tried to hit out in the seventh but their batters were foxed by some excellent pitching. Chono flew out to Komiyama, then Abe was bundled up and taken by Toritani in foul ground before Murata hit one into the glove of Shibata to end the innings. Once again the combination of Murton and Kanemoto paid dividends, both singling right with Murton making third on Kanemoto's hit. Both were pinch run for, Yamato for Murton and Shusuke for Kanemoto. Komiyama was next and he laid down a perfect squeeze along the first baseline. Yamato was home 2-0 Tigers with a runner on second. One of the few occasions where a bunt is justified. Nohmi grounded out to Sawamura and Hirano struck out but Tigers had a nice advantage. Yet again Giants lacked a response. Nohmi struck out two in the eighth and kept the runners off base. Takagi took over the pitching duties for Tigers eighth. Sawamura had pitched well but hadn't had that little extra Nohmi had. Takagi was immediately in trouble with Shibata singling left. Toritani picked up another walk but Arai flew out to second and Brazell struck out looking. However, the third out is always the hardest to get even if it is Yamato. He drove his first pitch through the infield to right for a timely single 3-0 Tigers, runners on first and third. Takagi exited to the strains of 'auld lang syne' and Ohno took over. He induced a fly out from Shunsuke to get out of the innings. Giants ninth and Wada decided to go with Nohmi for a complete game shutout. Tani (pinch hitter) grounded out to second but then Sakamoto picked up his second walk adding a symmetry to the game (he had walked in the first). Bunting wouldn't do so Bowker tried to hit out and struck out swinging. Chono swung at his first pitch and flew out in foul ground to Sekimoto (replacement third with Arai on first). Tigers victory.

Nohmi's first victory of the season and a very nice pitching display with some good work by Tigers lesser batters. Tigers have employed the squeeze very nicely so far this season and they have shown some nice touches. Giants season still has to really get started and no doubt Giants supporters are mumbling about dumping Hara.