Pro Yakyu Game of the Week: 4/25

The game is starting now here.

Heh heh heh. Thanks for deciding to do the Sunday evening games! However, I forgot to add a caveat to my attendance - as long as the Internet connection in the radio studio I'm in at the time is working properly, I'll definitely be there. Sadly, this past Sunday the connection broke soon after I got there and I couldn't get it back.

But I'll absolutely be there from about the 4th inning on most Sundays. I'm enjoying giving my listeners live updates, and it sounds like we would have had another exciting game to check out had things worked out.

Thanks again for doing this! I for one really appreciate it!

Well, I guess 2:00 is still too early to wake up for a regular season game for many. Or that the Game of the Week has been changed to Sunday hasn't gotten around yet. What ever the reason for lack of participation, I see that there are several who like the transcript. That's motivation enough to continue.

This evening we have the home run hitting Giants (and they don't disappoint) vs. everyone's favorite underdogs, the Hanshin Tigers. Hanshin's been very good at converting the opposition's mistakes to their fortune, and they don't disappoint. Read on to see who goes home disappointed.

TRANSCRIPT generated on: 2004/04/25 21:37
CHATROOM: Pro Yakyu Game of the Week/Giants vs. Tigers
MODERATORS: westbaystars

18:07: westbaystars: Welcome to the Pro Yakyu Game of the Week for Sunday, April 25, 2004.
18:08: westbaystars: We have the Giants at Koshien playing the Tigers this evening for the 6th meeting of the two teams.
18:09: westbaystars: Shimioyanagi's first faces Nishi who flies out to right. One out.
18:11: westbaystars: Next up for the Giants in the top of the first is Ide, starting in center.
18:11: westbaystars: Rhodes apparently starts in left this evening.
18:12: westbaystars: Ide is called out on a pitch just on the outside corner for out number two.
18:13: westbaystars: Rhodes give Shimoyanagi's first offering to him a ride to center, but it's caught at the warning track by Akahoshi
18:13: westbaystars: for the final out of the inning.
18:13: westbaystars: Shimoyanagi retires the Giants in order in the top of the first.
18:13: westbaystars: ---
18:13: westbaystars: Bottom of First
18:13: westbaystars: ---
18:15: westbaystars: Hayashi takes the mound for the Giants, and his first pitch to Imaoka is fouled away for strike one.
18:15: westbaystars: Two balls later, Imaoke grounds the ball to the left side.
18:16: westbaystars: Kokubo gets the bad hop and throws Imaoka out.
18:16: westbaystars: That brings up the speedy Akahoshi.
18:17: westbaystars: Akahoshi goes down swinging on four pitches. Two quick outs.
18:17: westbaystars: Kinkade lifts a high fly ball to shallow center.
18:18: westbaystars: Ide comes in, but fails to make the catch!
18:18: westbaystars: Kinkade, turns on the gas after reaching first base and takes second.
18:18: westbaystars: I didn't hear if that was rulled a hit, error, or hit and error.
18:19: westbaystars: Kanemoto comes up next.
18:19: westbaystars: One thing that the Tigers were very good at last year was making mistakes pay.
18:20: westbaystars: Kanemoto swats as some flies with his bat with the count at 2-strikes, one ball.
18:21: westbaystars: And the next pitch is watched, just catching the inside corner for strike three.
18:21: westbaystars: Hanshin got a runner to second on a mis-judged shallow fly, but failed to bring him in.
18:21: westbaystars: At the end of one complete, the score is tied 0-0.
18:21: westbaystars: ---
18:21: westbaystars: Top of Second
18:21: westbaystars: ---
18:23: westbaystars: Takahashi hits a line drive deep to right on Shimoyanagi's first offering.
18:24: westbaystars: And it goes onto the net protecting the entry tunnel in the stands!
18:24: westbaystars: That didn't look like a home run ball, but that's what it was.
18:24: westbaystars: Takahashi ran full speed until he rounded first and realized it was over.
18:25: westbaystars: Peta-chan follows striking out swinging for the first out.
18:25: westbaystars: Kokubo comes up next.
18:26: westbaystars: He lifts the ball deep to the gap in right-center (uchukan).
18:26: westbaystars: The ball bounces over the fence and on another net.
18:27: westbaystars: Entitled two base.
18:27: westbaystars: That brings up Abe, the current home run king for both leagues with 11.
18:30: westbaystars: But he goes down fishing for an outside changeup for out number two.
18:30: westbaystars: Ohsuga follows by ripping a line drive over Kanemoto's head in left on the first pitch.
18:30: westbaystars: Kokubo rounds third and comes home for the Giants' second run.
18:31: westbaystars: Ohsuga has a stand-up double.
18:31: westbaystars: That was Ohsuga's first professional hit (at ichi-gun).
18:31: westbaystars: Pitcher Hayashi comes up next.
18:33: westbaystars: Hayashi is showing very good bat control, fouling off a number of pitches while working the count 2-2.
18:34: westbaystars: But in the end, Shimoyanagi gets him swinging at his 8th offering to retire the side.
18:34: westbaystars: But not before a lead-off home run and a pair of doubles puts two runs on the board for the Giants.
18:34: westbaystars: Going to the bottom of the second, the Giants take a 2-0 lead.
18:34: westbaystars: ---
18:35: westbaystars: Bottom of Second
18:35: westbaystars: ---
18:36: westbaystars: Hamanaka leads off the bottom half of the second for Hanshin.
18:36: westbaystars: He lifts the ball deep to center.
18:37: westbaystars: Haittaaaaaa.
18:37: westbaystars: Lead-off home run for Hamanaka.
18:38: westbaystars: Hanshin cuts the Giants just gained lead in half.
18:38: westbaystars: Arias comes up next.
18:39: westbaystars: But he fouls out just right of the first base bag for out number one.
18:41: westbaystars: Now Sky A stopped covering the game, and ABC showed it for a second, but went to commercial.
18:41: westbaystars: According to the radio, Fujimoto popped out to the left side.
18:42: westbaystars: Then Yano grounds out to Kokubo at third, and the side is retired.
18:42: westbaystars: Fujimoto's was a half-liner to short.
18:42: westbaystars: Nonetheless, Hamanaka's lead-off home run cut the Giants' lead in half.
18:42: westbaystars: At the end of two complete, the Giants lead 2-1.
18:42: westbaystars: ---
18:42: westbaystars: Top of Third
18:42: westbaystars: ---
18:44: westbaystars: ABC is finally back with the game on TV, and the Giants' lead-off hitter, Nishi, is at the plate.
18:45: westbaystars: I really don't like the networks' coverage.
18:45: westbaystars: I'll keep the radio on the rest of the game for when they start while still at commercial, and it *will* happen.
18:46: westbaystars: Nishi lifts the ball deep to left.
18:46: westbaystars: Kanemoto jogs over a bit. Looks up, and the ball lands in the Giants' oendan.
18:46: westbaystars: That's the third lead-off batter home run of the night.
18:47: westbaystars: The Giants take a 3-1 lead.
18:47: westbaystars: Ide lifts the first Shimoyanagi offering to right.
18:47: westbaystars: Hamanaka has it. One out.
18:47: westbaystars: Rhodes lifts his first pitch deep to center.
18:47: westbaystars: But not deep enough.
18:48: westbaystars: Akahoshi waits for it well in front of the warning track.
18:48: westbaystars: Two down.
18:49: westbaystars: Takahashi Yoshinobu, who led off the second with a home run, gets hit on the elbow pad.
18:49: westbaystars: He takes first after removing the pad.
18:49: westbaystars: That brings up Petagine.
18:50: westbaystars: He grounds the ball up the middle.
18:50: westbaystars: It's fielded by Fujimoto just left of the second base bag.
18:51: westbaystars: He brings the ball to the bag himself for the force.
18:51: westbaystars: And the side is retired.
18:51: westbaystars: But the Giants add another run with Nishi's lead-off home run.
18:51: westbaystars: That gives the Giants a two run lead again, 3-1.
18:51: westbaystars: ---
18:51: westbaystars: Bottom of Third
18:51: westbaystars: ---
18:52: westbaystars: Pitcher Shimoyanagi leads off for Hanshin in the bottom of the third.
18:53: westbaystars: He watches strike three go by on three pitches (fouled one away), one down.
18:53: westbaystars: Back to the top of the order in Imaoka.
18:53: westbaystars: He sends the ball up the middle, base hit.
18:54: westbaystars: Akahoshi comes up next.
18:57: westbaystars: He works the count to 2-2 before lifting a high fly ball to center.
18:57: westbaystars: Ide has pleanty of time to get to this one, and takes it in for out number two.
18:58: westbaystars: Kinkade is next.
18:58: westbaystars: He swings at Hayashi's first pitch and lifts the ball to right.
18:58: westbaystars: But it's no problem for Yoshinobu to come over and pull it in.
18:59: westbaystars: The side is retired.
18:59: westbaystars: Hanshin got a base hit, but stranded Imaoka at first.
18:59: westbaystars: At the end of three complete, the Giants lead 3-1.
18:59: westbaystars: ---
18:59: westbaystars: Top of Fourth
18:59: westbaystars: ---
19:00: westbaystars: Kokubo leads off the Giants' fourth.
19:01: westbaystars: He lifts the ball to left-center this time.
19:02: westbaystars: Both Kanemoto and Akahoshi are there, and Akahoshi take the ball in for the out.
19:02: westbaystars: Abe follows by ripping his first pitch over Fujimoto and before Kanemoto. Base hit.
19:03: westbaystars: Ohsuga, who got his first professional hit in the second, and RBI double over Kanemoto in left,
19:03: westbaystars: steps in.
19:06: westbaystars: But he goes fishing for a low-outside 2-2 fork, going down swinging.
19:06: westbaystars: That's two outs.
19:06: westbaystars: Pitcher Hayashi comes up to bat, and he's swinging at the first pitch, but missing.
19:07: westbaystars: The next pitch is fouled up the third base side. He's really up there trying to hit the ball.
19:08: westbaystars: After another foul ball, he bails to prevent from getting hit for ball one.
19:08: westbaystars: In the end, though, Hayashi swings and misses for strike three, retiring the side.
19:08: westbaystars: I appriciate that he's really trying to hit, unlike a number of other pitchers.
19:09: westbaystars: The Giants fail to score and continue to lead 3-1.
19:09: westbaystars: ---
19:09: westbaystars: Bottom of Fourth
19:09: westbaystars: ---
19:10: westbaystars: *** Other scores - all finals ***
19:11: westbaystars: ***
19:11: westbaystars: Orix 5 - 4 Lotte
19:11: westbaystars: Daiei 7 - 5 Nippon Ham
19:11: westbaystars: Seibu 3 - 7 Kintetsu
19:11: westbaystars: Yakult 13 - 7 Chunichi
19:11: westbaystars: Hiroshima 6 - 8 Yokohama
19:11: westbaystars: ***
19:11: westbaystars: Kanemoto leads off the fourth for Hanshin.
19:12: westbaystars: He grounds a 2-2 pitch weakly to short.
19:13: westbaystars: Ohsuga has trouble pulling the ball out of his glove, grabbing for it twice.
19:13: westbaystars: By the time he throws to first, Kanemoto has crossed the bag. Safe!
19:13: westbaystars: Lead-off runner is aboard.
19:14: westbaystars: That brings up Hamanaka, who homered for Hanshin's lone run his last at bat in the second.
19:14: westbaystars: Hamanaka ground the ball to Nishi at second.
19:15: westbaystars: He tosses the ball to Ohsuga, and he drops it!
19:15: westbaystars: Kanemoto, sliding in to take Ohsuga out, grabs the bag, and everyone is safe.
19:15: westbaystars: E-6.
19:16: westbaystars: Can Hanshin make these mistakes pay off?
19:16: westbaystars: Arias, who has come through when it counts in the past, steps up.
19:17: westbaystars: He lifts the ball deep to left.
19:17: westbaystars: Going, going,
19:18: westbaystars: caught, just at the warning track by Rhodes!
19:18: westbaystars: Kanemoto and Hamanaka both touch up and take the next base.
19:19: westbaystars: I suppose they figured it best to tag up as it would have either been caught our in the stands.
19:19: westbaystars: Kanemoto was just safe at third.
19:19: westbaystars: Fujimoto comes up next.
19:21: westbaystars: He works the count full.
19:22: westbaystars: And takes ball four in the dirt.
19:22: westbaystars: Bases are now loaded with one out.
19:22: westbaystars: That brings the Giants' pitching coach out to the mound. Horiuchi-kantoku staying firm on his seat on the bench.
19:22: westbaystars: Just a pep talk.
19:23: westbaystars: Hayashi has thrown 58 pitches so far.
19:23: westbaystars: Ohya, batting eighth in the order, comes up.
19:24: westbaystars: He lifts a fly ball to center.
19:24: westbaystars: The runners touch up.
19:25: westbaystars: Kanemoto comes part way up the line, then retreats as Ide's throw is a bullet to the plate.
19:25: westbaystars: Wise move to hold.
19:25: westbaystars: That brings up pitcher, Shimoyanagi, who isn't much of a swinger, coming from the Pacific League.
19:26: westbaystars: He grounds a ball back to Hayashi on the mound on one bound.
19:26: westbaystars: Hayashi jogs the ball half way to first before tossing to Petagine.
19:27: westbaystars: Hanshin strands the bases loaded.
19:27: westbaystars: At the end of four complete, the Giants continue to lead 3-1.
19:27: westbaystars: ---
19:27: westbaystars: Top of Fifth
19:27: westbaystars: ---
19:29: westbaystars: Nishi leads off for the Giants for the third time this evening.
19:30: westbaystars: He grounds to Imaoka at second, and we have one quick out.
19:33: westbaystars: Ide follows fouling off a number of pitches, working the count to 2-2 before striking out on a high pitch.
19:33: westbaystars: Two down.
19:33: westbaystars: Rhodes steps in.
19:34: westbaystars: While Rhodes hit his 8th home run of the season last nigh, extending the Giants' record for most
19:34: westbaystars: consecutive games with a home run from the start of a season to 19,
19:34: westbaystars: it wasn't enough to keep the Giants from falling into last place.
19:35: westbaystars: He lifts the ball deep to left here.
19:35: westbaystars: But not far enough.
19:35: westbaystars: Kanemoto comes over and grabs the ball on the warning track.
19:35: westbaystars: The Giants are retired in order.
19:36: westbaystars: Going to the bottom of the fifth, the Giants continue to lead 3-1.
19:36: westbaystars: ---
19:36: westbaystars: Bottom of Fifth
19:36: westbaystars: ---
19:38: westbaystars: Imaoka lines a pitch to right. Takahashi makes a great shoestring catch running in for the out.
19:38: westbaystars: This is the best play on the Giants' side this evening.
19:38: westbaystars: Akahoshi comes up next.
19:41: westbaystars: He goes down swinging at a pitch that Abe couldn't keep control of outside and low.
19:41: westbaystars: But Akahoshi doesn't try to take first, and is called out on his way back to the dugout.
19:42: westbaystars: Kinkade, who was hit by a pitch earlier this past week, but not given first as he was accused of getting hit on purpose,
19:43: westbaystars: gets hit in the right knee, his 10th dead ball of the season.
19:43: westbaystars: Well, at least his knee wasn't in the strike zone.
19:43: westbaystars: But the Giants' might have had a case that he had tried to swing.
19:43: westbaystars: Nonetheless, that brings up Kanemoto.
19:46: westbaystars: Kanemoto pulls a couple of pitches up the first base line, just foul. Timing is still a little early.
19:48: westbaystars: Working the count 2-2, and fouling off a couple more pitches, he fouls a ball off the third base side.
19:49: westbaystars: Kokubo comes over, gets close to the netting on the side, and trips over the third base bullpen pitcher's mound.
19:49: westbaystars: He was concentrating on the ball above, so the change in terain got him.
19:49: westbaystars: Kawaiso.
19:50: westbaystars: Finall, though, Kanemoto is called out on a beautiful pitch, waste high and on the inside corner.
19:50: westbaystars: That retires the side.
19:50: westbaystars: At the end of five complete, the Giants continue to lead 3-1.
19:50: westbaystars: ---
19:50: westbaystars: Top of Sixth
19:50: westbaystars: ---
19:55: westbaystars: Takahashi leads off hitting the first pitch over Akahoshi's head in center.
19:56: westbaystars: By the time Akahoshi plays the ball off the fense, Takahashi is in at second standing up. Home run and a double.
19:56: westbaystars: Peta-chan comes up next.
19:58: westbaystars: He grounds the ball to the right side. Imaoka's play is at first as Takahashi moves over to third.
19:58: westbaystars: One out, runner now at third.
19:59: westbaystars: Kokubo hits a fly ball to left. That's at least deep enough to score Takahashi.
20:00: westbaystars: Kanemoto brings in the ball back peddling in the warning track.
20:00: westbaystars: Takahashi touches up, and comes home to increase the Giants' lead to 4-1.
20:00: westbaystars: That brings up Abe.
20:02: westbaystars: After a very long foul ball to right, Abe draws the first walk of the game (Kinkade's HBP excluded).
20:03: westbaystars: Ohsuga comes up next.
20:03: westbaystars: Not sure if this is a game he'd like to remember of forget.
20:03: westbaystars: Remember for his first hit (a double), forget his fielding.
20:04: westbaystars: And maybe he'd like to forget swinging and missing a pitch way outside here to retire the side.
20:04: westbaystars: But not before the Giants increased their lead to three, now leading 4-1.
20:04: westbaystars: ---
20:04: westbaystars: Bottom of Sixth
20:04: westbaystars: ---
20:06: westbaystars: Hamanaka leads off the sixth for Hanshin with a grounder through the left side.
20:06: westbaystars: Lead-off runner is on.
20:07: westbaystars: Arias comes up next.
20:09: westbaystars: A wild pitch moves Hamanaka to second, and brings the count to 2-2.
20:10: westbaystars: Next pitch is way outside, full count.
20:10: westbaystars: The payoff pitch is lifted back, foul, over the backstop.
20:11: westbaystars: The next pitch, is taken low and way inside. Base on balls.
20:11: westbaystars: That puts runners at first and second with nobody out.
20:12: westbaystars: Hayashi has now thrown 99 pitches.
20:12: westbaystars: Fujimoto squares to bunt, and takes ball one.
20:13: westbaystars: There's a huge gap on the left side as Ohsuga is playing next to the second base bag.
20:13: westbaystars: I take it Fujimoto is a pull hitter.
20:13: westbaystars: He lays down a nice bunt to the third base side.
20:13: westbaystars: Hayashi fields the ball going toward third, turns, and fires the ball past Petagine an into right field's foul territory
20:14: westbaystars: Hamanaka comes around to score.
20:14: westbaystars: Both runners move up a base, and Hanshin has runners at second and third with nobody out.
20:14: westbaystars: Trailing 4-2, now.
20:15: westbaystars: After a brief talk on the mound by Giants' pitching coach, number eight batting Yano stands in.
20:16: westbaystars: He grounds the ball to third. Kokubo tries to touch Arias on his way back to third, safe.
20:16: westbaystars: He fires to first, the one hopper is saved by Petagine to get the force out.
20:16: westbaystars: One down, runners still at second and third.
20:17: westbaystars: Pinch hitter Sekimoto comes up to bat for Shimoyanagi.
20:19: westbaystars: He rips a 1-strike, 3-ball pitch up the third base line, just past a diving Kokubo and fair!
20:20: westbaystars: The ball goes into the corner, and two runners cross the plate to make this a tied ball game!
20:20: westbaystars: Sekimoto slides into second before the throw.
20:20: westbaystars: Hanshin has finally made the Giants pay for their mistakes (wild pitch and an error).
20:21: westbaystars: This is what Hanshin did so well doing last season.
20:21: westbaystars: Imaoka now comes up to bat. Hayashi should be replaced very soon.
20:22: westbaystars: He lines the ball over Ide's head in center. That will score Sekimoto from second.
20:23: westbaystars: And "Mr. Two Base (Double)" is into second base standing.
20:23: westbaystars: That's it for Hayashi as Hanshin takes a 5-4 lead.
20:25: westbaystars: Imaoka lead the league with 9 doubles going into this game, by the way.
20:26: westbaystars: Kubo comes in to pitch for the Giants.
20:26: westbaystars: And the first batter he faces is Akahoshi, throwing a ball for his first pitch.
20:30: westbaystars: And Kubo eventually walks Akahoshi to put runners at first and second, still with one out.
20:31: westbaystars: Kinkade comes up. Kubo pitches inside, and misses Kinkade, getting the call strike.
20:33: westbaystars: A few pitches later, Kubo gets Kinkade swining at a low-outside pitch. Two down.
20:33: westbaystars: That brings up number four batting Kanemoto.
20:36: westbaystars: And he gets Kanemoto fishing for a fork ball bouncing off the plate. The side is retired.
20:37: westbaystars: But not before Hanshin came back with 4 runs to dai-gyakuten the Giants, now taking the lead 5-4.
20:37: westbaystars: ---
20:37: westbaystars: Top of Seventh
20:37: westbaystars: ---
20:40: westbaystars: Andoh is in pitching for Hanshin now.
20:41: westbaystars: And he faces Kuroda (who came in to the #9 slot when the pitcher was switched in the bottom of the sixth).
20:42: westbaystars: Kuroda goes down swinging on four pitches for out number one.
20:42: westbaystars: Nishi is quickly in the hole 2-strikes, no balls, then takes ball one way high. Waste pitch.
20:43: westbaystars: The next pitch is swung on and missed, Andoh has consecutive strike outs.
20:43: westbaystars: Ide comes up next, and takes strike one on the outside corner.
20:43: westbaystars: Andoh is going after these Giants.
20:44: westbaystars: Next pitch is fouled off to the right side, into the stands.
20:44: westbaystars: Balloons of all colors line the stands.
20:44: westbaystars: And Ide takes ball one, which looked like strike three on the outside corner to me.
20:45: westbaystars: The next pitch, and Ide fails to check his swing, three consecutive strike outs retire the side in order.
20:45: westbaystars: The mood has turned gloomy on the third base side dugout.
20:45: westbaystars: Going to the Tiger's Lucky Seven, Hanshin leads 5-4.
20:45: westbaystars: ---
20:46: westbaystars: Bottom of Seventh
20:46: westbaystars: ---
20:48: westbaystars: Kubo is still on the mound for Hanshin.
20:48: westbaystars: He did a great job of getting out of the nightmare of the sixth inning for the Giants.
20:48: westbaystars: The first batter he faces this inning is Hamanaka.
20:49: westbaystars: And he gets Hamanaka swinging at a ball in the dirt on the outside corner. One out.
20:50: westbaystars: Arais is more selective, letting one bounders go by to get ahead no strikes, 2 balls.
20:50: westbaystars: The next pitch is fouled off the third base side.
20:51: westbaystars: Kubo's fourth pitch is grounded to Kuroda at short, who throws him out. Two away.
20:51: westbaystars: Fujimoto digs into the left-handed batter's box.
20:53: westbaystars: Fujimoto fails to check his swing on a one bounder.
20:53: westbaystars: He tries for first, but is thrown out and the side is retire.
20:54: westbaystars: Kubo also strikes out the side in order, crossing the Tigers up bad.
20:54: westbaystars: At the end of seven complete, Hanshin continues to lead 5-4.
20:54: westbaystars: ---
20:54: westbaystars: Top of Eighth
20:54: westbaystars: ---
20:57: westbaystars: It sounds like Hanshin has pulled a few more switches, bringing Williams in at the #3 batting spot.
20:58: westbaystars: Rhodes disagrees with the strike two call to run the count full from Williams.
20:58: westbaystars: It looked pretty far outside to me.
20:58: westbaystars: So I feel for him.
20:59: westbaystars: The shobu pitch is hit to Fujimoto at short, thown to Arias at first, and we have one out.
21:00: westbaystars: Wait, Andoh was put into the #3 spot in the order when he came in. Williams is in the #5 spot.
21:00: westbaystars: Just wanted to clear that up.
21:01: westbaystars: Williams is having trouble throwing strikes, going 1-strike, 3-balls to Takahashi,
21:01: westbaystars: before getting Yoshinobu to foul off a pitch to bring the count full.
21:01: westbaystars: That's two full counts in a row. Not a good sign.
21:01: westbaystars: The next pitch is fouled off to the left side and out of play.
21:02: westbaystars: And the next, to pretty much the same place. Takahashi is swinging late, defensively.
21:02: westbaystars: The next pitch was fouled off the third base side as well, but Takahashi looks like he's got the timing right.
21:03: westbaystars: Another foul, this one tipped just over Yano's glove.
21:03: westbaystars: And finally Takahashi goes down swinging at a pitch on the outside corner. Two outs.
21:03: westbaystars: Williams had to earn that one.
21:04: westbaystars: Petagine is up there swinging, getting in a hold 2-strikes, 1-ball.
21:05: westbaystars: The next pitch is taken outside and high, 2-2.
21:05: westbaystars: And Peta-chan doesn't swing at ball three, third consecutive full count.
21:06: westbaystars: The next pitch is taken high, ball four. The Giants have the tying run on base.
21:06: westbaystars: Kokubo, who hit a one bounder over the right-center fence in the second, comes up.
21:10: westbaystars: Kokubo has fouled off a number of pitches, keeping the count at 2-strikes, 1-ball for quite a while.
21:10: westbaystars: Might we not have to go to full count again?
21:11: westbaystars: Another foul ball. Williams' pitch count may start approaching the starter's soon.
21:11: westbaystars: Ball, 2-2.
21:11: westbaystars: Foul, just left of the third base bag.
21:12: westbaystars: The next pitch is hit deep to right.
21:12: westbaystars: Going, going, caught at the fense.
21:12: westbaystars: That retires the side.
21:13: westbaystars: With just one more chance, the Giants still trail by a run, 5-4.
21:13: westbaystars: ---
21:13: westbaystars: Bottom of Eighth
21:13: westbaystars: ---
21:15: westbaystars: Sikorsky comes in to pitch for the Giants. He comes into the #6 slot in the order, and there sound like a number
21:15: westbaystars: of other switches to go with him.
21:15: westbaystars: Yano leads off the bottom of the eighth for Hanshin, looking to get something started for insurance.
21:16: westbaystars: He lifts a high fly to center, but well within Ide's range.
21:16: westbaystars: Ide takes the ball in at the warning track line, and we have one out.
21:17: westbaystars: Sekimoto, who came in earlier as a pinch hitter for the pitcher and stayed in at third comes up.
21:17: westbaystars: And he's in a hole 2-strikes, no balls real quick.
21:18: westbaystars: The next pitch, one bounder, but Sekimoto holds up.
21:20: westbaystars: After working the count full, Sekimoto swings and misses, undercutting the ball.
21:20: westbaystars: Two down.
21:21: westbaystars: Sikorsky shakes off a lot of Abe's suggestions for Imaoka, then throws a ball to bring the count to 1-1
21:21: westbaystars: Riggan is up in Hanshin's bullpen.
21:22: westbaystars: He lifts the ball deep to left.
21:22: westbaystars: It looks like it's going.
21:23: westbaystars: But Tuffy pulls the ball in at the fense. Three out.
21:23: westbaystars: While Hanshin went down in order, they continue to lead going to the last inning, 5-4.
21:23: westbaystars: ---
21:23: westbaystars: Top of Ninth
21:23: westbaystars: ---
21:25: westbaystars: Riggan is on the mound for Hanshin.
21:25: westbaystars: And he faces Abe.
21:26: westbaystars: Abe grounds the ball up the middle. The ball takes a strange bound off the mound.
21:26: westbaystars: Fujimoto fields the ball just in front of the second base bag, throws to first, and we have one out.
21:27: westbaystars: Kawanaka, who came in earlier at third base during one of those double switches, comes up.
21:28: westbaystars: Kawanaka fouls off a few to work the count full.
21:29: westbaystars: Then Kawanaka steps out of the box, and Riggan steps off the mound after setting up again.
21:29: westbaystars: What's with this?
21:30: westbaystars: The next pitch is grounded to short. Fujimoto is throwing in a hurry as Kawanaka comes up the line fast.
21:30: westbaystars: And he just gets him. Two out.
21:30: westbaystars: Colorful balloons now fill the stands in anticipation of the final out.
21:31: westbaystars: Gotoh stands in as a pinch hitter as ABC signs off for the night.
21:31: westbaystars: Whew, we've got the game on Sky A again. I don't like this "relay nighter."
21:32: westbaystars: Nonetheless, the stands start the "ato ikkyu" call as the count goes full.
21:32: westbaystars: And now the radio and TV broadcast are way too out of sync.
21:33: westbaystars: The next pitch is low and outside, but the third base umpire says that Gotoh swung.
21:33: westbaystars: Three out.
21:33: westbaystars: The side is retired and Hanshin wins a big come from behind victory.
21:33: westbaystars: That gives the Tigers a 5 and 1 record against the Giants this season.
21:34: westbaystars: And while the Giants extend their home run hittins streak to 20 games from the start of the season,
21:35: westbaystars: they fall 2 games under both Yokohama and Yakult for last place.
21:36: westbaystars: One has to wonder how a team can be on pace to hit over 280 home runs can be in last place.
21:36: westbaystars: ***
21:36: westbaystars: Game Final
21:36: westbaystars: Giants 4 - 5 Hanshin
21:36: westbaystars: ***

Sign me up for a game this weekend for the Hawks. As it's somewhat of a holiday - KY Derby - I've got a few days off.

OK. I'll setup for a double header this Sunday, then. You take the Hawks' vs. Buffaloes from 1:00 pm JST, then I'll take it from 6:00. Sounds good.

Does that mean you'll be covering the Giants vs. Carp game on Sunday evening, westbaystars-san? I'll be there for that one, but not for the earlier action.

Thanks for doing this!

- Stevie

Yes, Giants vs. Carp is the only 6:00 game, so it'll be game two of the double header Game(s) of the Week. See you then.

Perfect. See you then.

Well it doesn't seem like things work out for me lately. I've a family situation to deal with and can't make tonight's game after all. I hope you can forgive me for this inconvience. I apologize.

Saturday's or Sunday's games look good. It should be on KBC.