Five-Run 6th, Ohtonari, Tames Tigers; Hawks Win 7-2

The Softbank Hawks have started interleague with a three-game winning streak and are the only undefeated team left in interleague along with the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters. What is impressive is that the Hawks today defeated the best team in Japan in the white-hot Hanshin Tigers by an impressive score of 7-2.

Kenji Ohtonari, who has been struggling as of late, took the mound for Softbank and gutted out 7 and 2/3 tough innings to get the win and improve his record to 4-5. The young lefty surrendered 2 runs on 6 hits, walking 3 and striking out 9 over 137 pitches. The Tigers sent Andoh to the mound and he suffered the loss, going 5 innings and giving up 6 runs on 7 hits while striking out 3 and walking 2.

A rocky first was not the start that Ohtonari was looking for, as Akahoshi singled to begin the game. After a groundout and a walk, Kanemoto doubled to score 2 runs. However, those were the only 2 runs that the Tigers would score in the game.

The Hawks took some time to get going. Yuya Hasegawa hit his fourth home run of the season to right to cut the Tigers lead to 2-1. From there until the 6th, the game settled down. The best chance that either team had was in the Tigers half of the 3rd inning. Arai tripled to left with two outs, followed by a Kanemoto walk, but Lew Ford struck out to end the inning.

Then came the Hawks 6th. Andoh, who was on cruise control to this point, melted down, as five straight Hawks reached base before an out was even recorded. Kawasaki led off with a single, Matsunaka singled, and Kokubo doubled to score Kawasaki. With first base open, Shibahara walked, and the streaky Matsuda doubled to score Matsunaka and Kokubo.

Andoh was finished for the day as Egawa came in to try and stop the bleeding. Hasegawa hit a sacrifice fly to center, and then Tsuji, who pinch-hit for Kosai, walked. Yamazaki flew out, and then speedster Honda singled in the 5th and final run of the inning before Kawasaki flew out to end the inning.

Meanwhile, Ohtonari, after the 3rd-inning scoring threat, took control of the game, at one point retiring 9 batters in a row and 13 of the last 14 batters he faced overall until the 8th inning. Akahoshi led off with a single, but Hirano grounded into a double play. With the inning in trouble, Arai completed a 2-for-3 day by doubling to left, then Kanemoto walked for the second time in the game. Ohtonari's day was done, and Ogura was brought on to stop the rally. Toritani had a chance to put some runs on the board for the first time since the first inning, but grounded to short to end the inning. From there, Ogura retired the side in order in the 9th to end the game.

The Hawks have once again poked their heads above .500, and will renew acquaintances with the Tigers tomorrow.