August 4th Andoh v Fukui - The abject Andoh

There was nothing pretty about this game from the Tigers point of view. Andoh was terrible which recalls his previous performance. Carp got to him in a big way and after that cruised to victory. Despite some work Tigers, of course, basically had no answer. Scores

        1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R  H E
Tigers  0 0 0 0 1 2 0 0 0 3  6 0
Carp    0 1 5 0 0 0 0 0 X 6 10 0 

Starting lineups

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

Carp
1. Amaya (Centre)
2. Kikuchi (Second)
3. Soyogi (Short)
4. Eldred (First)
5. Dobayashi (Third)
6. Iwamoto (Left)
7. Mukae (Right)
8. Kura (Catcher)
9. Fukui (Pitcher)

The failure to use Asai regularly is puzzling. It suggests a mental defficiency in Tigers coaching team (quelle surprise!). Asai is a fighter and an RBI man and this seems to be anti the philosophy of the current management. For Tigers things started quietly, the batters were retired in order by Fukui and no one got on base. Andoh did the same and one thought that this would be one of his better performances. Tigers second saw the first base runner - Murton - who walked with one out. However, the next two batters flew out so no joy there. Instead Andoh served Eldred up a nice fat hittable pitch for his first home run in Japan 1-0 Carp. This was a lead off effort and the next three batters couldn't do anything but the lead was established. Tigers then failed to respond - rather par for the course. Carp third and things really began to unravell. Kura singled but Fukui messed up his three bunts and was out. This looked good for Tigers. However, Amaya singled. Kikuchi wasn't asked to bunt and singled left to load the bases. Next up was Soyogi who hit a bases clearing double on a full count 4-0 Carp, runner on second. Eldred followed with a two run home run off the by now useless Andoh 6-0 Carp. Watanabe replaced him and immediately gave up a two base hit to Dobayashi. However he managed to retire Iwamoto and Mukae and limit the damage to five runs - Carp had a winning lead.

Tigers fourth and their first hit, a two out single from Toritani. It's a pity that nothing came of this. Carp were rather overwhelmed by Watanabe in their fourth. True Kura led off with a single but he immediately fell to a Fukui double play. Next Amaya singled but he tried to steal second and was thrown out to end the innings. Tigers fifth saw Ryota Arai lead off with a home run which managed to stay the right side of the pole 6-1 Carp, this game wasn't going to be a shut out. Tsuru pitched Carp's fifth and retired the batters in order. Of course, the Carp were on cruise control by now having a comfortable lead though with a pitcher as poor as Fukui one could never be sure. This was convincingly demonstrated in Tigers sixth. Hirano started the innings with a single to centre. Yamato grounded out to second forcing out Hirano but making first safely himself. Then Toritani singled to set up runners on first and third. Fukui balked which was a complete surprise and it brought the runner on third home 6-2 Carp, runner on second. Takahiro Arai hit deep into centre to bring in another run 6-3 Carp, runner on second with one out. This brought the replacement of Fukui by Nakata, a wise move by Carp. He got the next two batters out with Ryota Arai singling to right. Takahiro Arai tried for home but was tagged out to end the innings. Still the enterprise was good. Dobayashi led off Carp's sixth with a single and was forced out by Iwamoto. Then Mukae hit into a double play and that innings was over.

Tigers challenge was basically over. If Takahiro Arai had been home safely then Carp would have been in trouble but their sound fielding had preserved a useable margin. Imamura pitched Tigers seventh and with the three run lead retired the batters in order. Another of Wada's faults is that he seems unable to motivate his players to even greater efforts. Katoh pitching to Imanari (replacement catcher) retired the Carp batters in order in the bottom of the seventh. Tigers eighth was likewise quiet and time was now running out. Katoh pitched his second innings - Carp's eighth and retired the batters in order but with a three run lead, Carp could afford to take a relaxed approach. Tigers couldn't and needed to produce something in their ninth. They failed with Mickolio taking out Takahiro Arai, Murton and Ryota Arai to end the game. Carp victory.

Carp took the series and given the way Tigers are playing are looking at a sweep. Tigers play has been demoralized and directionless. The replacement of the coaching team cannot come soon enough; if, of course, it happens which is unlikely.