Hawks Wings Clipped, Fall to Lions 10-4

A streak has come to an end. On Saturday, the Fukuoka Softbank Hawks lost their first game by more than one run, getting pounded by the Saitama Seibu Lions 10-4. Gaijin starter Jason Standridge could not make it out of the 3rd inning, giving up 6 runs (4 earned) on 6 hits, striking out 4 and walking 3. Relievers Masahiko Morifuku and Keisuke Kattoh did not fare any better, as Morifuku labored through 2 innings giving up 3 runs on 5 hits. Kattoh was able to at least stem the bleeding, but by then, it was a lost cause.

On the Seibu side, grizzled veteran Kazuhisa Ishii put in a quality start, giving up 2 runs on 9 hits in 7 innings and struck out 5. He had a lot of help from his offense, though. Kataoka started the game with a triple, then Craig Brazell launched his 4th home run of the season for a quick 2-0 lead in the 1st.

Second baseman Yuichi Honda then committed an error which caused Standridge to unravel in the 2nd inning. the Lions sent all 9 men to the plate, and it ended when GG Satoh struck out swinging. Despite a clean 3rd inning, Standridge was finished for the day, and so were the Hawks.

On the bright side for the Hawks, first baseman Micheal Restovich continued his good start with a pair of hits and an RBI, and Nobuhiko Matsunaka even knocked out 2 hits.

The Hawks close out their weekend series with the Lions on Sunday, with Golden Rookie Ohba taking the mound against Kinney.