June 28th Messenger v Iwata - SWEPT BY JOVE!!!

Tigers failed to raise to the occasion and slumped to an ignominious defeat. For most of the game the pitchers dominated but having a good catcher told in the end coupled with an extra bit of confidence that comes from an assured, well managed team. I am not sure if one can apply that description to Takagi but Dragons are certainly playing like that. Toritani owned up to the mistake of yesterday's game - he hadn't been paying attention to the throw. Apart from that the only thing of note for Tigers was Kanemoto's 2,500th hit - that has to be classified as a marvelous achievement. Scores

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

Starting lineups

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

Dragons
1. Araki (Second)
2. Ohshima (Centre)
3. Wada (Left)
4. Blanco (First)
5. Takahiro Donue (Right)
6. Ibata (Short)
7. Morino (Third)
8. Tanishige (Catcher)
9. Iwata (Pitcher)

It was good to see Yamato starting again - long may this continue. Fujii returned to the catching duties and was his usual inept self but this didn't manifest itself to the seventh. Both sides would struggle to score but Dragons had the capacity to turn on the burners, something Tigers lacked. Tigers first started quietly, Neither Murton nor Hirano got on base and Toritani also flew out to end the innings quickly. Surprisingly, Dragons first was quiet as well but it took Messenger longer to get the same result. However, his final pitch count would be lower than Iwata's (105 to 107). Tigers second was also quiet - Arai, Kanemoto and Brazell didn't have any luck in getting on base. Messenger ran into trouble in the Dragons second walking Blanco to start the innings. Donue struck out swinging and Ibata grounded out to short forcing out Blanco but making first safely. Morino hit a two base to left centre to set up runners on second and third. Tanishige was deliberately walked to load the bases and get at Iwata (a no brainer this one). Iwata did not surprise anyone but hit his first pitch to third for the final out. Tigers still had to get a runner on and their third demonstrated no change from the other two innings. The batters went down in order. Araki led off Dragons third quite successfully, hitting into left centre for a two base lead off hit. He was bunted to third by Ohshima and then Wada hit to Toritani. It was all the Tigers short could do to throw to first for the second out. However, Araki was home 1-0 Dragons. Blanco flew out to right.

What happened next surprised everyone. Iwata couldn't hold the lead and left one nicely placed for Murton to hit. He put it over the fence for a solo home run 1-1 scores tied. Iwata then had to work hard to get the next three outs but managed it. Tigers had shown signs of fight which was very welcome indeed. Dragons fourth was quiet - the restored parity also restored Tigers confidence and Messenger pitched well with only Morino providing any resistance. Unfortunately Iwata's composure was also restored and he retired the Tigers in order as well. The restored confidence was short lived and Dragons were again on the offensive in the bottom. Tanishige led off with a two base to right and was bunted to third by Iwata. This looked to be a repeat of Dragons third. but Araki swung at his first pitch and flew out to Murton in foul ground. No run there. Then Messenger carefully prised Ohshima out to end the innings. He had done well. Tigers sixth saw a quiet innings. Tigers had had no base runners and their only hit had come from Murton's home run. Dragons sixth was also quiet - no one got on base.

The seventh was a wasted opportunity. Hirano flew out to left and Toritani grounded out first ball. Then Arai drew Tigers walk of the game. Kanemoto hit right to put runners on second and third. Brazell though has gone off the boil and he grounded out to second to end the innings. He was not having a good game. Dragons showed how it should be done in their seventh. Messenger returned of course but there was nothing wrong with this as he had pitched well and was still well within his limit. Ibata led the innings off with a single to centre. Then Morino hit deep into left setting up runners on second and third. Next was Tanishige who had his second two base hit of the night, this one going to left centre. Two runners home 3-1 Dragons, runner on second with no outs. This became runner on third when Yamasaki (pinch hitter) grounded out to Toritani. Araki hit deep to right and Tanishige tagged up and made home safely for another run 4-1 Dragons. Ohshima walked and stole second but Wada flew out to right to end the innings. Sosa took over for Tigers eighth and with one out gave up a single to Imanari (pinch hitting for Fujii). Hiyama (pinch hitter) flew out to right but Murton singled right and set up runners on first and third. Hirano was lured into hitting high into centre and flying out to end that chance. Fukuhara pitched Dragons eighth and with the game slipping away needed to ensure that Tigers didn't fall further behind. He managed OK though he did give up a two out single to Ibata. This came to nothing though as Morino flew out to centre. Iwase pitched Tigers ninth and got Toritani to ground out to first. Arai singled left and then Kanemoto hit to centre - runners on first and second. It was all down to Brazell who foolishly hit his first pitch straight to short for the game ending double play. Dragons victory.

What was significant was the number of doubles the Dragons managed; 5 to only 2 singles. It wasn't very good calling by Fujii at all. Tigers only managed one double and a home run. They also failed to exploit their clusters of singles. In the seventh, eighth and ninth they had chances to score but failed to do anything. Brazell was the main culprit here and needs to step up his performance. Tigers now have a 1-7 (1) record against the Dragons and look embarrassingly inept against the Nagoya outfit. They have a chance to pick themselves up against the Swallows and we will see the return of Akiyama though he will be saddled with Fujii. Sad to say Tigers are not going to win the pennant this year.