July 5th Messenger v Takeuchi - The end of the rainy season

Messenger pitched a gem but it didn't look like that at the start of the game. He was rapidly in trouble but somehow Carp were not able to capitalise on their early good fortune. Tigers hit back effectively through Arai and Imanari without really getting hold of the Carp.In fact after the wobble in the second Messenger was in control and Carp were left to rue their use of the bunt. Scores

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

Starting Lineups

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

Carp
1. Lewis (Left)
2. Kikuchi (Second)
3. Maru (Centre)
4. Eldred (First)
5. Matsuyama (Right)
6. Soyogi (Short)
7. Dobayashi (Third)
8. Aizawa (Catcher)
9. Takahashi (Pitcher)

Nishioka was held out of the Tigers lineup as he wasn't feeling well. Saka got the start instead. It didn't help as he was out first pitch grounding out to second. Yamato and Toritani followed quickly to end the innings. Lewis started Carp's first by driving the ball smartly into centre. He was bunted to second by Kikuchi and then Maru drove into centre to bring in the run 1-0 Carp, runner on first. Eldred was next and he hit into a double play. Takeuchi couldn't hold the lead his teammates had given him. Murton flew out to right but Arai got a nice hittable pitch and hit it hard and low (though above the field) over the left fence for a solo home run 1-1 scores tied. Next was Imanari who hit higher and to right for another solo home run 2-1 Tigers. Ryota tried to get in on the home run game but flew out to centre and then Fujii flew out to right. Tigers had seized the lead. Messenger hadn't shaken the cobwebs out though and Fujii's calls were ridiculous given the situation with Matsuyama leading the Carp's second off with a single to left. Soyogi also singled left and Carp had runners on first and second with no outs. Dobayashi bunted the runners to second and third but then Aizawa struck out. Here Nomura made what can only be called a bold mistake - he had Mukae pinch hit for Takeuchi. Replacing your starter so soon in the game is certainly unusual and normally results from injury. It didn't seem to be the case with Takeuchi. Anyway, Mukae also struck out swinging and the threat to Tigers was over. Imai took over for Tigers third and to say he was immediately in trouble would be an understatement. Messenger led off with a single to centre. Saka hit right and then Imai dead balled Yamato to load the bases with no outs. Toritani was next and had the opportunity to do some real damage. He fluffed it hitting into a double play. Of course this still allowed Messenger to score but it could have been more 3-1 Tigers, runner on third. Murton hit right but could only ground out to second to end the innings. Messenger was much better in Carp's third and retired the batters in order - the lead had given him a boost in confidence and Tigers would take full advantage of it.

Surprisingly there were no fireworks in Tigers fourth. Imai reestablished order and retired the batters 1-2-3 including Arai and Imanari the two home run batters. The same happened to Carp in their fourth with only Soyogi needing a full count before he fell. Tigers fifth saw Imai walk Messenger with one out and Tigers fans thought that maybe more runs were on the way but Saka hit into the innings ending double play and the score remained the same. Carp's last hit came in their fifth. Dobayashi led the innings off with a single to centre. He was forced out by Aizawa, the double play not coming off. Imai was pinch hit for by Abe who struck out swinging and then Lewis flew out to end the innings. Hisamoto took over for Tigers sixth and also found things easy going. True Murton did reach first through an error by Dobayashi but with two out Hisamoto didn't panic and retired the batters in order. About now you expected the Carp to surge and attack the pitcher. It didn't happen, Messenger stayed in control and the Carp's batters fell in order in the sixth.

Tigers seventh was quiet with Shunsuke (replacement right) leading off the innings. At the same time Sekimoto replaced Ryota at third but didn't get a bat in the innings. Carp's seventh was also quiet and it seemed that Messenger was going to pitch the entire game. Given his pitch count why not - he was mowing down Carp batters smoothly and with confidence. Carp meanwhile were totally without a solution as to how to deal with the pitching and time was running out. Tigers though weren't adding to their score and so things were pretty tight. One thing that Wada and his team have managed to do is stifle run production very successfully. Tigers do score some runs but not in the numbers or with the frequency necessary. This trend continued in their eighth. Messenger struck out and Saka who was surprisingly still around singled to centre. He made second on Yamato's ground out but Toritani did nothing and just grounded out to second. Carp fell in order in their eighth and the addition of Hirose as a pinch hitter did nothing to ease the inevitable pall of defeat that hung over them. Ueno took over for Tigers ninth and gave up a single to Murton. Then Arai hit right. Murton tried to take third but was tagged out sliding in and then Wada just to show how bereft of ideas he is had Shunsuke bunt Arai to second. What on earth for? It has to be one of the most stupid of stupid bunts ever. Sekimoto was next and he grounded out. Messenger took down the first two Carp batters in the ninth with ease. This left Eldred who swung and hit a low liner into the glove of Toritani and that was it - Game over. Tigers victory.

A very impressive piece of pitching by Messenger who once he had weathered the early storm was dominant and in control. Seven innings with one hit and no walks was really good - all the Carp's other hits coming in the first two innings. There was a good case for Messenger being given the hero interview but this went to Imanari for his first ever career home run. Carp looked weak and feeble sad to say. They probably should abandon their hopes of a play off place but certainly need to improve drastically if they are to realise a third place finish.