Pro Yakyu Game of the Week: 5/23
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Re: Pro Yakyu Game of the Week: 5/23
[ Author: westbaystars | Posted: May 23, 2004 10:40 PM
| YBS Fan
]
Below please find the May 23 Game of the Week, the Hanshin Tigers hosing the Yomiuri Giants at Koshien. While I could hear the rain outside my window during the game here, it appeared to be a beautiful evening in the Kansai Area.
The transcript below contains all of my errors, including where I jumped from the top of the sixth to the bottom of the seventh in keeping track of the innings. I figured it out in the middle of the top of the seventh.
Otherwise, unlike the blow out last week, this one keeps you going, not knowing how it'll end until the geki-tekina ending.
Enjoy.
TRANSCRIPT generated on: 2004/05/23 22:29
CHATROOM: Game of the Week/Giants vs. Tigers @ Koshien
MODERATORS: westbaystars
17:57: westbaystars: ---
17:58: westbaystars: Top of First
17:58: westbaystars: ---
17:59: westbaystars: It's been a grey day all day in the Kanto Area, but it looks like a beautiful blue sky over Koshien Stadium.
18:00: westbaystars: Shimoyanagi will be starting for Hanshin.
18:00: westbaystars: His first pitch to Giant lead-off hitter Nishi is taken for strike one.
18:00: westbaystars: This game is now under way.
18:03: westbaystars: Six pitches later, Nishi takes ball three to run the count full.
18:03: westbaystars: The shobu pitch is drilled over the third baseman and into left field.
18:03: westbaystars: The Giants have their lead-off runner on.
18:04: westbaystars: Shimizu follows.
18:06: westbaystars: And he slaps the ball the other way to left, but well within Kanemoto's range to get. One out.
18:07: westbaystars: That'll bring up Rhodes.
18:07: westbaystars: Rhodes shakes his bat, and grounds the first pitch one one hop over Shimoyanagi.
18:08: westbaystars: With the Rhodes shift in place, Fujimoto fields the ball amost on the second base bag, takes the step for the force,
18:08: westbaystars: then throws to first to retire the side.
18:09: westbaystars: The Giants got their lead-off runner on, but are retired three up, three down.
18:09: westbaystars: ---
18:09: westbaystars: Bottom of First
18:09: westbaystars: ---
18:10: westbaystars: Kubo takes the mound for the Giants.
18:10: westbaystars: And his first pitch of the game is lined up the middle for a base hit by Akahoshi.
18:11: westbaystars: Unlike Nishi, Akahoshi is a real threat to steal. That'll put a lot of pressure on Kubo.
18:11: westbaystars: And before Kubo throws to Fujimoto, he throws over to first.
18:13: westbaystars: Fujimoto grounds to Petagine at first. He throws the ball to second to force Akahoshi,
18:13: westbaystars: but the relay to first is not in time.
18:14: westbaystars: We have an exchange of the runner at first.
18:14: westbaystars: Imaoka comes up next.
18:15: westbaystars: After two quick strikes on Imaoka, Kubo throws way outside for ball one. Why won't he challenge him?
18:16: westbaystars: The next pitch is way inside. This is how you increase your pitch count ineffectively!
18:17: westbaystars: The 2-2 pitch is lunged for low and away and lifted to straight away center.
18:17: westbaystars: Rhodes takes a couple of steps in and grabs the ball for the out.
18:17: westbaystars: That'll bring up Kanemoto.
18:18: westbaystars: And he lines the ball to the right-center gap.
18:18: westbaystars: Fujimoto is off to the races. He's rounding third and coming home. No throw!
18:18: westbaystars: Hanshin scores first on an RBI double by Kanemoto.
18:19: westbaystars: Hiyama comes up to the plate.
18:20: westbaystars: It sounds like he breaks his bat as he grounds weakly to Petagine at first.
18:20: westbaystars: All in one motion, Peta-chan fields the ball and makes the final out himself at first.
18:21: westbaystars: The side is retired.
18:21: westbaystars: But not before Hanshin gets on the board first, taking an early 1-0 lead.
18:21: westbaystars: ---
18:21: westbaystars: Top of Second
18:21: westbaystars: ---
18:23: westbaystars: Giants' number four batter Takahashi grounds out to Imaoka at second on the first pitch of the second.
18:23: westbaystars: One quick out.
18:23: westbaystars: That brings up Petagine.
18:24: westbaystars: And he grounds the ball through the left side of the infield for a base hit.
18:24: westbaystars: Former Hawk number for batter Kokubo comes up.
18:26: westbaystars: And he goes down swinging for out number two.
18:27: westbaystars: Abe, hitting .830 with a runner on first (if I read that correctly), grounds the ball to Fujimoto at short, who tosses
18:27: westbaystars: to Imaoka on second, and the side is retired.
18:28: westbaystars: The Giants had a one out hit, but haven't gotten to second base yet.
18:28: westbaystars: ---
18:28: westbaystars: Bottom of Second
18:28: westbaystars: ---
18:29: westbaystars: Sekimoto leads off the bottom half of the second for Hanshin.
18:32: westbaystars: And he lines a grounder up the middle after a number of foul balls. Base hit.
18:32: westbaystars: Hanshin's lead-off man is on.
18:32: westbaystars: Torotani, Hanshin's "Golden Rookie" for this year, comes up to bat.
18:33: westbaystars: He hasn't been very "golden" so far, hitting only .125.
18:34: westbaystars: And he goes down swinging at an outside pitch for the first out of the inning.
18:34: westbaystars: That brings up catcher Yano.
18:35: westbaystars: But Yano grounds into an easy 4-6-3 double play, and Kubo is out of the inning on three batters.
18:35: westbaystars: At the end of two complete, the score remains: Giants 0 - 1 Hanshin.
18:36: westbaystars: ---
18:36: westbaystars: Top of Third
18:36: westbaystars: ---
18:37: westbaystars: Nioka leads off the third.
18:39: westbaystars: Now Shimoyanagi wastes two pitches after getting two strikes on the batter. He was doing better earlier.
18:39: westbaystars: The 2-2 pitch is grounded up the middle.
18:39: westbaystars: Imaoka makes a great stab, turns and fires to first - high.
18:40: westbaystars: But Sekimoto snow-cones the ball with a toe on the bag. Out!
18:40: westbaystars: Kubo grounds to the right side. Sekimoto fields the ball going toward second.
18:40: westbaystars: He shouvels the ball to Shimoyanagi covering. Two down.,
18:41: westbaystars: That brings us to the top of the Giants' order in Nishi.
18:41: westbaystars: And Nishi gets his second hit of the evening, drilling the ball through the left side of the infield.
18:42: westbaystars: The Giants get a two out base runner.
18:43: westbaystars: That'll bring up Shimizu who surpassed the career 1,000 hit mark earlier this week.
18:45: westbaystars: And Shimoyanagi goes full count to Shimizu.
18:46: westbaystars: Then gets Shimizu swinging at a ball way low on the outside part of the plate.
18:46: westbaystars: Strike three, the side is retired.
18:46: westbaystars: The Giants got their third hit of the game, but still have nothing to show for it.
18:46: westbaystars: ---
18:46: westbaystars: Bottom of Third
18:46: westbaystars: ---
18:47: westbaystars: Shimoyanagi leads off.
18:48: westbaystars: And he looks a lot better with the bat than he has the other times I've seen him.
18:48: westbaystars: Although he grounds out to the pitcher in the end.
18:48: westbaystars: One out.
18:48: westbaystars: That brings us to the top of the Tiger order in Akahoshi.
18:49: westbaystars: He fakes bunt and takes ball one.
18:50: westbaystars: Akahoshi lifts a high fly ball to shallow right on a full count pitch.
18:51: westbaystars: Nishi goes back. Takahashi comes in. It looks like it might fall in.
18:51: westbaystars: But Nishi reaches out on the run and makes the catch.
18:51: westbaystars: Two down.
18:51: westbaystars: Fujimoto hits Kubo's first offering to him the other way into left field, base hit.
18:52: westbaystars: That brings up Imaoka.
18:55: westbaystars: Imaoka hits the ball up the middle weakly.
18:56: westbaystars: Nioka fields the ball and steps on second - but not in time to get Fujimoto.
18:56: westbaystars: So he throws to first, and Imaoka is out. The side is retired.
18:56: westbaystars: ---
18:56: westbaystars: Top of Fourth
18:56: westbaystars: ---
18:58: westbaystars: Rhodes leads off and lines a base hit to left on the first pitch.
19:00: westbaystars: Takahashi strikes out swinging for the second out.
19:00: westbaystars: Sorry, first out.
19:01: westbaystars: That brings up Petagine.
19:02: westbaystars: And Peta-chan hits a high one hopper to first.
19:02: westbaystars: The throw to second gets one,
19:02: westbaystars: the relay back to first is in time, double play.
19:03: westbaystars: The Giants get another base runner with nothing to show.
19:04: westbaystars: ---
19:04: westbaystars: Bottom of Fourth
19:04: westbaystars: ---
19:04: westbaystars: Kamemoto leads off the bottom half of the fourth.
19:05: westbaystars: And this time Kubo has to work to bring the count full.
19:06: westbaystars: After fouling off a number of pitches, Kanemoto lifts the ball to left field.
19:07: westbaystars: Shimizu is looking up and lifting his shoulders - signalling he doesn't see the ball.
19:07: westbaystars: With Nioka running out, the ball drops in.
19:07: westbaystars: It's rulled a base hit.
19:07: westbaystars: Actually, a double.
19:08: westbaystars: Hiyama grounds to the right side of the infield.
19:08: westbaystars: While Nishi throws Hiyama out, Kanemoto moves over to third.
19:08: westbaystars: That'll bring up Sekimoto.
19:09: westbaystars: Sekimoto has been doing a very good job substituting at first, hitting .302 going into the game.
19:10: westbaystars: But he grounds the ball right back to Kubo on the mound.
19:10: westbaystars: Kubo looks Kanemoto back, and throws Sekimoto out.
19:10: westbaystars: Two down, runner at third.
19:10: westbaystars: Toritani comes up next.
19:12: westbaystars: And he gets his fifth hit of the season, an RBI single through the right side of the infield!
19:12: westbaystars: The Tigers go up 2-0.
19:12: westbaystars: That's a big run against a team that can hit the ball over the fense at any time.
19:13: westbaystars: Kubo's first pitch to Yano knocks him down!
19:13: westbaystars: The fans are getting restless with that high and tight pitch.
19:13: westbaystars: The next pitch just hits the outside part of the plate for strike one.
19:14: westbaystars: And the 1-1 pitch is lifted to shallow left-center.
19:14: westbaystars: Nioka has this one in sight all the way, as does Shimizu coming over and yielding to Nioka.
19:14: westbaystars: Just as Nioka catches the ball, he backs into Rhodes who came in, knocking Rhodes down.
19:15: westbaystars: But with the out, Rhodes bounces up and runs into the dugout with the rest of the Giants.
19:15: westbaystars: Call the ball, someone!
19:16: westbaystars: But the Tigers got another run thanks to the mis-judged fly ball by Shimizu in left.
19:16: westbaystars: ---
19:16: westbaystars: Top of Fifth
19:16: westbaystars: ---
19:17: westbaystars: Kokubo leads off the fifth for the Giants.
19:18: westbaystars: And the count goes full to him.
19:19: westbaystars: The shoubu pitch is grounded to first where Sekimoto fields it going toward second.
19:19: westbaystars: Shimoyanagi comes over to cover, takes the throw a little awkward.
19:19: westbaystars: But for the first out nonetheless.
19:20: westbaystars: That brings up Abe, the current home run leader in both leagues.
19:20: westbaystars: And he rips a line drive up the middle for a base hit.
19:21: westbaystars: That brings up Nioka. Nioka has recently been brought back up after rehabilitation.
19:25: westbaystars: Nioka grounds to Imaoka at second.
19:25: westbaystars: He throws to second and just barely gets the force on Abe sliding in.
19:25: westbaystars: There is no throw to first.
19:25: westbaystars: Two down. Runner at first exchanged.
19:26: westbaystars: That brings up Kubo, who's celebrating his 24th birthday today.
19:27: westbaystars: He hasn't had much to celebrate so far, though.
19:27: westbaystars: Shimoyanagi goes full count to the opposing pitcher as Kubo won't go fishing.
19:28: westbaystars: The full count pitch is grounded to third.
19:28: westbaystars: Torinati plays the high hop and fires to first for the final out of the inning.
19:28: westbaystars: That retires the side.
19:28: westbaystars: ---
19:28: westbaystars: Bottom of Fifth
19:28: westbaystars: ---
19:30: westbaystars: Shimoyanagi leads off the Hanshin half of the fifth by grounding Kubo's first pitch back to him.
19:30: westbaystars: The toss to first is well in time. One out.
19:30: westbaystars: To the top of the order in Akahoshi.
19:31: westbaystars: He slaps Kubo's first offering to him right at Nioka at short.
19:31: westbaystars: The throw to first is well before the speedy Akahoshi.
19:31: westbaystars: Two pitches, two outs.
19:31: westbaystars: Fujimoto takes Kubo's first pitch, high for ball one.
19:33: westbaystars: This time Kubo has to work to full count.
19:34: westbaystars: After fouling off a full count pitch, Fujimoto slaps the ball the other way up the left side.
19:34: westbaystars: This is going into the corner, and Fujimoto is standing on second well before Shimizu fires the ball in.
19:34: westbaystars: Two out runner in scoring position.
19:34: westbaystars: That brings up Imaoka.
19:35: westbaystars: Imaoka goes the other way to right, but Takahashi only has to come is a few steps to take it in and retire the side.
19:36: westbaystars: ---
19:36: westbaystars: At the end of five complete, Hanshin continues to lead 2-0.
19:36: westbaystars: Top of Sixth
19:36: westbaystars: ---
19:39: westbaystars: Two for two Nishi leads off for the Giants.
19:39: westbaystars: Nishi surpassed 1,000 career hits on May 2 and 100 career home runs on May 9 earlier this month.
19:40: westbaystars: Nishi doesn't make it three for three as he grounds out to Fujimoto at short.
19:41: westbaystars: One out.
19:41: westbaystars: Shimizu comes up next.
19:42: westbaystars: Now, Shimoyanagi is ahead with two strikes and no balls.
19:42: westbaystars: What is the next pitch?
19:42: westbaystars: A good one!
19:42: westbaystars: And Shimizu lifts it to Hiyama in right. Two quick outs.
19:42: westbaystars: That brings up Rhodes.
19:43: westbaystars: Rhodes shakes his bat and swings and misses. Strike one.
19:44: westbaystars: Three pitches later, Rhodes strikes out looking at strike three down the middle.
19:45: westbaystars: The side is retired in order.
19:45: westbaystars: ---
19:45: westbaystars: Bottom of Seventh
19:45: westbaystars: ---
19:46: westbaystars: Kanemoto, with a pair of doubles in two at bats, steps in.
19:48: westbaystars: But not this time. He watches strike three go by on a full count.
19:49: westbaystars: One down.
19:49: westbaystars: Hiyama comes up next and grounds Kubo's second pitch up the middle, just past a lunging Nishi.
19:50: westbaystars: Base hit.
19:50: westbaystars: That brings up Sekimoto.
19:51: westbaystars: And Sekimoto keeps it going, grounding a base hit through the left side.
19:51: westbaystars: One out with runners at first and second.
19:52: westbaystars: Toritani, who had an RBI single his last at bat steps in.
19:53: westbaystars: The entire right field stands are chearing in unison, like a single organism.
19:54: westbaystars: And he walks on five pitches. Bases are loaded.
19:54: westbaystars: This is far and away the biggest pinch Kubo's been in all night.
19:54: westbaystars: And Yano steps up to the plate.
19:55: westbaystars: Shimoyanagi is in the on-deck circle.
19:56: westbaystars: Kubo falls behind, one strike, three balls, to Yano.
19:57: westbaystars: The next pitch, swing on and fouled away.
19:57: westbaystars: Full count.
19:57: westbaystars: And another foul, back behind the plate and into the stands.
19:58: westbaystars: The next pitch is swung on and missed, strike three!
19:58: westbaystars: It was a border-line pitch low and over the plate.
19:58: westbaystars: Good pitch.
19:59: westbaystars: That brings up Shimoyanagi who is 0 for 12 this season.
19:59: westbaystars: He's cutting at the ball pretty well, fouling off a couple of pitches to go behind two strikes, no balls.
20:00: westbaystars: The next pitch is outside and high, ball one.
20:00: westbaystars: Shimoyanagi fouls the next pitch off the plate and into the catcher's glove.
20:01: westbaystars: Kubo's next offering is taken for ball two, 2-2.
20:02: westbaystars: And Kubo gets Shimoyanagi to swing at an outside pitch belt high for strike three.
20:02: westbaystars: That retires the side, stranding bases loaded.
20:02: westbaystars: But at the end of seven complete, Hanshin continues to lead 2-0.
20:02: westbaystars: ---
20:02: MHStevie: *sigh* Sorry... I'm late...
20:02: westbaystars: Top of Eighth
20:02: westbaystars: ---
20:02: westbaystars: It's a pretty fast paces game tonight.
20:03: MHStevie: Looks like it...
20:04: westbaystars: Shimoyanagi has thrown 80 pitches so far, striking out four, allowing five hits, and walking none.
20:04: MHStevie: I hope the game lasts until my first on-air update... =)
20:04: westbaystars: Takahashi leads off for the Giants.
20:04: westbaystars: Which is?
20:05: MHStevie: About 15 minutes away...
20:05: westbaystars: No problem.
20:05: westbaystars: The count goes to two and two to Takahashi.
20:06: westbaystars: The next pitch is grounded right to Imaoka at second.
20:06: westbaystars: The throw to first is in plenty of time. One out.
20:06: westbaystars: That brings up Petagine.
20:07: MHStevie: When you have a moment, who did the scoring for Hanshin?
20:07: westbaystars: Petagine is in because Kiyohara, 9 hits away from 2,000, was hit in his left pinky finger last night and is
20:07: westbaystars: out of the lineup.
20:07: westbaystars: Kanemoto drove in Fujimoto with a double in the first.
20:08: westbaystars: Then Kanemoto got a lucky double that Shimizu lost in left, and was driven in by Toritani.
20:08: westbaystars: Petagine lifts the ball high to center.
20:08: westbaystars: But not deep.
20:09: westbaystars: Akahoshi comes in and over to take the ball in for out number two.
20:09: westbaystars: That brings up Kokubo.
20:09: westbaystars: He lifts the ball deep to center.
20:09: westbaystars: Haitta!
20:09: westbaystars: Home run into the balloon filled left-center seats.
20:10: westbaystars: Hey, that makes this the seventh inning.
20:10: MHStevie: There goes the shutout!
20:10: westbaystars: Looks like I got off by an inning somewhere.
20:10: MHStevie: Hmmm? How so?
20:10: westbaystars: That's why that second run was so important. The odds are that the Giants will hit a home run at some point.
20:10: MHStevie: Wouldn't the balloons have been released before the bottom of the 7th?
20:11: westbaystars: The fans shoot off balloon for the "Lucky Seven" at bat.
20:11: MHStevie: Or have they not released the balloons yet?
20:11: westbaystars: Right, so it's the top of the seventh. The balloons are all in release position.
20:12: westbaystars: In the mean time, Shimoyanagi goes 2-2 to Abe, a serious home run thread, currently leading the Central Legue in all
20:12: westbaystars: three Triple Crown categories.
20:13: westbaystars: Now we have a full count.
20:13: MHStevie: Understood... that makes sense...
20:13: westbaystars: And he fouls the ball off his own body.
20:13: westbaystars: The next pitch is reached for, and pulled to Imaoka at second.
20:13: westbaystars: The throw to first retires the side.
20:14: westbaystars: So, we go to the bottom of the seventh with Hanshin leading 2-0.
20:14: westbaystars: ---
20:14: westbaystars: Bottom of Seventh
20:14: westbaystars: ---
20:14: MHStevie: 2-1
20:15: MHStevie: By the way, what inning did Toritani drive Kanemoto in to score?
20:16: westbaystars: Ah, the score is 2-1.
20:16: westbaystars: That was back in the 4th.
20:17: westbaystars: Maeda comes in to pitch for the Giants this inning.
20:17: westbaystars: He faces the top of the Hanshin order in Akahoshi.
20:18: westbaystars: He lines the ball to the left side.
20:19: westbaystars: And Kokubo, with no time to react, leaps and grabs the ball.
20:19: westbaystars: Great catch!
20:19: westbaystars: And one out.
20:19: westbaystars: That brings up Fujimoto.
20:19: westbaystars: In the first, Fujimoto grounded into a force play to reach base.
20:19: westbaystars: Then scored from first on Kanemoto's double.
20:20: westbaystars: He slices the ball up the middle, but Nioka fields the ball and throws him out.
20:20: westbaystars: Two outs.
20:20: westbaystars: That brings up Imaoka.
20:21: westbaystars: And on his first pitch, he grounds the ball on a short hop stabbed by Kokubo on the run.
20:21: westbaystars: He throws to first, and the Tigers are down in order.
20:21: westbaystars: Not so Lucky Seven this evening.
20:21: westbaystars: ---
20:21: westbaystars: Top of Eighth
20:21: westbaystars: ---
20:22: westbaystars: Rigan takes over on the mound, now that the shutout is out the window.
20:23: westbaystars: Sorry, that's Riggan.
20:23: westbaystars: Foreign names are so hard to spell sometimes.
20:24: westbaystars: The first batter he faces is Nioka, who flies out to Akahoshi in center on his first pitch.
20:24: westbaystars: One quick out.
20:24: westbaystars: That brings up Gotoh to pinch hit for the pitcher.
20:26: westbaystars: And Gotoh walks on five pitches.
20:26: westbaystars: That will bring us to the top of the order in Nishi.
20:28: westbaystars: Riggan's front foot slips on his second delivery to Nishi, the ball going way outside to bring the count even at 1-1.
20:28: westbaystars: He does some grounds keeping of the mound with his spikes, and throws ball two without slipping.
20:28: westbaystars: The next pitch is fouled away, the count goes to 2-2.
20:28: westbaystars: Gotoh is almost picked off of first.
20:29: westbaystars: With the runner on the move, Nishi fouls the ball off to the right side and out of play.
20:30: westbaystars: The next pitch is swung on and missed, strike three!
20:30: westbaystars: That brings us to two down and a runner on first with Shimizu coming to the plate.
20:32: westbaystars: Shimizu lifts the ball deep to left.
20:32: westbaystars: But not deep enough.
20:32: westbaystars: Kanemoto comes over toward center and fields the ball for the final out.
20:32: westbaystars: The Giants got a base runner, but fail to score without a home run.
20:32: westbaystars: ---
20:32: westbaystars: Bottom of Eighth
20:32: westbaystars: ---
20:35: MHStevie: By the way, nice game for Yokohama yesterday... 12-inning victory!
20:36: westbaystars: Okajima comes in to pitch for the Giants.
20:36: westbaystars: Yea, I watched that to the end.
20:37: MHStevie: That must have been exciting... I just read the boxscore... =)
20:37: westbaystars: When Gailard blew the lead in the 8th I got very nervous, because it would interrupt Sasaki's routine.
20:38: westbaystars: And sure enough, Sasaki gave up that home run to Alex in the 12th.
20:38: westbaystars: Then when Woods hit that home run - no doubt about it off the bat!
20:38: westbaystars: That was great.
20:38: MHStevie: Woods really came up big to support Sasaki, though...
20:38: westbaystars: Kanemto strikes out watching. One out.
20:39: westbaystars: I'm much more impressed with Woods this year than last.
20:39: westbaystars: He may not be hitting as many home runs, but the ones he hits really count.
20:39: westbaystars: Many more RBIs with the higher batting average as well.
20:40: westbaystars: Habs-san hasn't come by this evening, yet.
20:40: westbaystars: I had bad news about Walker's start this afternoon. I.e., he lost.
20:41: westbaystars: I know (s)he wants to know about Walker, but how do I present such bad news?
20:41: westbaystars: Hiyama works the count full.
20:42: westbaystars: He takes ball four, that goes through Abe's legs.
20:42: westbaystars: Hiyama runs up the line thinking he might get an extra base, but holds at first.
20:42: MHStevie: Every pitcher has bad starts... I don't think you need to sugar coat it... =)
20:43: westbaystars: That brings up Sekimoto, 2 for 3 this evening.
20:43: westbaystars: Sekimoto lines Shimada's first pitch to right for a base hit.
20:44: westbaystars: That puts runners at first and second with one out.
20:44: westbaystars: Pinch hitter Yagi is coming to the plate.
20:44: westbaystars: And the Giants send out their pitching coach and interpreter.
20:45: westbaystars: No, the interpreter isn't for Shimada. It's for Sikorski coming in.
20:47: westbaystars: Sikorski's first pitch is lifted to center.
20:48: westbaystars: Rhodes comes over and takes the ball in.
20:48: westbaystars: Hiyama touches up at second and takes off for third!
20:48: westbaystars: Rhodes' throw to third is a one bounder that Kokubo misses!
20:49: westbaystars: But Abe had it backed up, and Hiyama holds at third.
20:49: westbaystars: The play is being ruled an error to allow the base runner to advance.
20:49: westbaystars: Yano comes up with Arias on-deck to pinch hit for the pitcher.
20:50: MHStevie: Looking back in this inning, when did Shimada come in to pitch?
20:51: westbaystars: Shimada started the inning.
20:51: westbaystars: Yano swings and misses for strike two. The count is even at 2-2.
20:52: westbaystars: The next pitch is high, full count.
20:52: MHStevie: Oh... you said Okajima at the beginning, so I was confused.
20:52: westbaystars: Oh, now I'm not sure.
20:53: westbaystars: In that case, it was Okajima who pitched until Sikorski.
20:53: westbaystars: Who just struck out Yano swinging to retire the side.
20:54: MHStevie: Yeah, Yahoo! shows Okajima...
20:54: westbaystars: Going to the nineth inning, Hanshin holds onto their one run lead.
20:54: westbaystars: ---
20:54: westbaystars: Top of Nineth
20:54: westbaystars: ---
20:55: westbaystars: Williams comes in to close for Hanshin.
20:56: westbaystars: The Ausie will face the quartet of #4 batters in Rhodes, Takahashi, Petagine, and Kokubo.
20:56: westbaystars: And Williams throws a strike to Rhodes for his first pitch.
20:57: westbaystars: The next pitch is taken, just inside for ball one.
20:57: westbaystars: Rhodes shakes his bat, then swings and misses for strike two.
20:58: westbaystars: Rhodes then takes strike three on the inside corner, and drops his bat.
20:58: westbaystars: Rhodes retires to the dugout. One out.
20:58: westbaystars: Takahashi takes strike one.
20:59: westbaystars: And swings and misses the ball outside, strike two.
20:59: westbaystars: Williams looks like he's on tonight.
20:59: westbaystars: The next pitch, a slider outside is ball one.
21:00: westbaystars: And another ball outside and up.
21:00: westbaystars: And we just passed the three hour mark for this game.
21:00: westbaystars: Followed by a base hit through the left side of the infield.
21:00: westbaystars: That'll bring up Petagine.
21:01: westbaystars: Peta-chan had a base hit his first at bat to lead off the second.
21:01: westbaystars: No, it was a one-out base hit in the second.
21:02: westbaystars: And he swings big here for strike one (to two balls).
21:02: westbaystars: The next pitch, straight, is fouled off the left side and out of play.
21:03: westbaystars: Petagine takes inside, full count.
21:03: westbaystars: We have a throw over to first, as I was starting to think that Williams' motion was too long and someone might steal.
21:04: westbaystars: The next pitch is swung on and missed! Strike three.
21:04: westbaystars: The Giants are down to their last out.
21:04: westbaystars: Kokubo represents their last hope.
21:04: westbaystars: And the fans have balloons at the ready for the victory release.
21:05: westbaystars: Williams goes in the hole with two straight balls to Kokubo.
21:06: westbaystars: With the rhythem of the fans in the background, Williams fires over strike one.
21:06: westbaystars: The next pitch brings the count even, called strike two.
21:06: westbaystars: Balloons are bouncing in unison.
21:06: westbaystars: The next pitch, just misses!
21:06: westbaystars: Full count.
21:06: westbaystars: I don't know how Kokubo took that pitch.
21:07: westbaystars: Last ball, fouled.
21:07: westbaystars: We'll do it again.
21:07: westbaystars: Abe takes his swings in the on-deck circle.
21:07: westbaystars: Williams delivers, lifted deep,
21:07: westbaystars: Haittaaaaaaaaaaaa!
21:08: westbaystars: Gyaku-ten!
21:08: westbaystars: Kokubo hits his second home run of the game, a come from behind, full count, two run shot!
21:08: westbaystars: The Giants take the lead for the first time this evening.
21:09: westbaystars: Abe gets hit on the elbow guard, and runs up to first.
21:09: westbaystars: Shimoyanagi looks on worriedly - losing his win.
21:10: westbaystars: There's a short meeting on the mound with the pitching coach.
21:10: westbaystars: Now Nioka stands in.
21:11: westbaystars: And we have two quick strikes as Nioka doesn't look at all like he's got the right timing.
21:11: MHStevie: Kokubo stares down a big pitch at 2-2, and then nails one...
21:11: westbaystars: The third pitch is hit right to first.
21:11: MHStevie: Greetings, habs!
21:11: westbaystars: Sekimoto goes to the bag himself, and the side is retired.
21:11: westbaystars: But not before Kokubo put the Giants on top with his big two run home run.
21:12: westbaystars: Going to the bottom of the ninth, the Giants now lead 3-2.
21:12: westbaystars: ---
21:12: westbaystars: Bottom of Nineth
21:12: westbaystars: ---
21:12: MHStevie: Suddenly Hanshin's backs are against the wall...
21:12: westbaystars: But so far this season, the Giants are 0 for 12 in games that they've only scored 0-3 runs in.
21:13: westbaystars: Arias comes up to pinch hit for Williams.
21:14: westbaystars: Sikorski is still on the mound for the Giants.
21:14: westbaystars: Habs-san, Walker pitched today, but got tagged for the loss.
21:14: westbaystars: Two 2-run home runs did him in.
21:15: westbaystars: Arias lines a 2-2 pitch to right center for a lead-off single.
21:15: westbaystars: He then jogs to the dugout for a pinch runner.
21:16: westbaystars: This is the game tying run on first.
21:16: westbaystars: And it will be in the person of Hirashita.
21:17: westbaystars: Akahoshi comes up.
21:17: westbaystars: And Sikorski gets ahead with two quick strikes.
21:18: westbaystars: And inside pitch is fouled off.
21:19: westbaystars: The next pitch is outside, ball one.
21:19: habs: greetings I had a blank screen first time on
21:19: MHStevie: Greetings!
21:19: westbaystars: Odd, I wonder why that happened.
21:20: westbaystars: The next pitch, a change up, is swung on and missed.
21:20: westbaystars: He was swinging way late.
21:20: habs: I see pete is getting tagged with a lot of home runs
21:21: westbaystars: One out.
21:21: westbaystars: Fujimoto comes up next.
21:21: westbaystars: Pete pitched into a number of jams, first and third, bases loaded, and worked out of them.
21:21: westbaystars: But home runs are costing him.
21:22: westbaystars: It's as though he pitches better with runners in scoring position.
21:22: westbaystars: With the runner going, Fujimoto grounds to Kokubo at third.
21:23: westbaystars: Kokubo looks to second. Then throws to first to get the sure out.
21:23: westbaystars: Hirashita moves to second, and the out count is increased to two.
21:23: westbaystars: That brings up Imaoka.
21:24: westbaystars: Sikorski gets two quick strikes on Imaoka.
21:24: westbaystars: The next pitch is lined deep to right!
21:25: westbaystars: It goes over Takahashi's head!
21:25: westbaystars: And bounces in the warning track.
21:25: westbaystars: Hirashita scores easilly from second on the stand up double.
21:25: westbaystars: We have a tie game!
21:25: habs: my computer is really slow
21:25: westbaystars: Kanemoto comes up, and Abe stands up.
21:26: westbaystars: The fans are booing as Sikorski intentionally walks Kanemoto.
21:26: MHStevie: All right! Last week was an anomaly... I've got another close one to report on!
21:27: westbaystars: That brings up Hiyama.
21:27: westbaystars: And he swings and misses a pitch way outside and low.
21:27: habs: last week I closed my eyes next thing I know screen was off
21:28: westbaystars: Refresh rate is every 30 seconds.
21:29: westbaystars: Was the screen off after no activity? If you don't type or move the mouse, the screen saver will kick in.
21:29: westbaystars: That happens a lot when I'm just reading something.
21:29: habs: nothing wrong your end I fell a sleep
21:29: westbaystars: The count is now 2-2. Sikorski's sixth pitch is fouled away. Hiyama stays alive.
21:30: westbaystars: That'll happen, too.
21:30: westbaystars: Hiyama slices the ball the other way to left.
21:30: westbaystars: But not deep enough.
21:30: westbaystars: Rhodes hardly moves to take the ball in, and the side is retired.
21:31: westbaystars: But the Tigers managed to tie the game.
21:31: westbaystars: Going to extra innings, we have a 3-3 ball game.
21:31: westbaystars: ---
21:31: MHStevie: Extra innings at Koshien!
21:31: westbaystars: Top of Tenth
21:31: westbaystars: ---
21:31: habs: pete usally gets almoet a weeks rest what happened with that
21:32: westbaystars: Personally, I like extra innings. Makes me feel like I get extra for my money.
21:32: westbaystars: I think that since he only threw five inning on Tuesday that they moved him up in the rotation.
21:32: westbaystars: It doesn't look like it worked, though.
21:33: westbaystars: Andoh comes in to pitch for Hanshin.
21:33: MHStevie: I take it all the fans had to put those victory balloons away for the moment... =)
21:33: westbaystars: Motoki pinch hits for Sikorski.
21:34: westbaystars: Yep. The balloons disappeared, then reappeared with the winning runner on second.
21:34: westbaystars: And as Motoki hits a lead taking home run right here, I don't see the balloons any more.
21:35: westbaystars: The Giants take a 4-1 lead.
21:35: westbaystars: Sorry, a 4-3 lead.
21:35: habs: whats a victory ballon?
21:36: westbaystars: That brings up the top of the order in Nishi.
21:36: westbaystars: Can you take that one, tigers1?
21:36: westbaystars: Nishi grounds to Sekimoto at first, who takes the ball to the bag by himself. One out.
21:37: westbaystars: Suzuki comes up for the first time. He came in defensively for Rhodes in center earlier.
21:38: westbaystars: And a handcuffed Suzuki managed to squeeze the ball up the middle for a base hit.
21:39: westbaystars: That brings up Rhodes. So Suzuki came in for Shimizu, and Rhodes moved to left and Suzuki to center.
21:39: westbaystars: My mistake. I just saw that Rhodes was no longer in center.
21:40: westbaystars: Suzuki then swipes second as Rhodes takes ball one to even the count at 1-1.
21:41: westbaystars: The next pitch is low and inside, ball two.
21:41: westbaystars: He then takes strike two on the outside corner. Rhodes didn't agree too much with the call.
21:42: westbaystars: Rhodes break his bat and bloops the ball over the second base bag and into shallow center field.
21:42: westbaystars: Base hit.
21:42: westbaystars: Suzuki had to hold up to see if the ball would bounce in, and only advances to third.
21:42: westbaystars: One out, runners at the corners.
21:43: westbaystars: There's a short meeting at the mound with the infielders and pitching coach.
21:43: westbaystars: Then Andoh is ready to face Takahashi.
21:44: westbaystars: And he takes strike one down the middle.
21:44: MHStevie: habs, it sounds like the Tigers fans launch balloons into the air when their team wins...
21:44: westbaystars: OK, I guess I'll explain the balloons.
21:45: MHStevie: At a couple points the fans were ready to launch, only to put them away when the Giants homered...
21:45: westbaystars: A little later.
21:45: westbaystars: In the mean time, Takahashi takes a ball, then swings at ball two way up high.
21:46: westbaystars: The next pitch is popped up to the third base coach's box where Imaoka (now at third) takes it in for out number two.
21:46: westbaystars: That brings up Petagine.
21:47: westbaystars: And Andoh has trouble finding the strike zone, getting in the hold with three straight balls.
21:47: westbaystars: And Kokubo on deck.
21:48: westbaystars: The next pitch is outside, ball four.
21:48: westbaystars: Kokubo now has the bases loades.
21:48: westbaystars: He's already hit a 1-run and game tying 2-run shot this evening.
21:48: habs: pitching change?
21:48: westbaystars: Not yet.
21:49: westbaystars: Kokubo swings and misses, strike one.
21:49: westbaystars: The next pitch is lifted to the right side, and out of play. Two quick strikes.
21:50: westbaystars: Next pitch is high, ball one.
21:50: westbaystars: The next pitch is grounded to Fujimoto at short.
21:50: westbaystars: The throw to first retires the side.
21:50: westbaystars: But not before the Giants take a 4-3 lead.
21:50: westbaystars: ---
21:50: westbaystars: Bottom of Tenth
21:51: westbaystars: --
21:51: westbaystars: One of the big "attrations" at Koshien is their balloon launches.
21:51: westbaystars: The fans have specially designed balloons that get a lot of height, but don't go a far distance.
21:51: habs: Giants still lead in team home runs for season
21:52: westbaystars: (This is to save the grounds crew from having too much of a clean up job.)
21:52: westbaystars: They launch these balloons for the bottom of the seventh ("Lucky Seven").
21:52: westbaystars: And after a win.
21:53: westbaystars: The Giants, as a team, have hit 86 (plus 3 this evening) home runs so far this season.
21:54: westbaystars: The second most home runs for a team in the Central League is Hiroshima with 59.
21:54: MHStevie: Yomiuri's living by the homer this game... two by Kokubo and one by Motoki.
21:54: westbaystars: Kawahara takes the mound for the Giants to face Sekimoto.
21:55: westbaystars: In the Pacific League, Nippon Ham has hit 67 so far, and they started their season a week earlier.
21:57: westbaystars: Kawahara goes full count to Sekimoto.
21:58: westbaystars: And Sekimoto takes ball four inside.k
21:58: westbaystars: The lead-off runner is on for Hanshin.
21:59: westbaystars: That'll bring up Kuji, who came in at short earlier in the infield shuffle.
21:59: westbaystars: Kuji squares to bunt.
21:59: westbaystars: He takes ball one.
22:00: westbaystars: We just passed the four hour mark.
22:00: westbaystars: This was looking like a fast game until the eighth.
22:00: westbaystars: Kuji takes ball two, still squaring, showing bunt.
22:01: westbaystars: Kuji squares and takes strike one. The ball was on the high end, and a little hard to lay down well.
22:02: habs: is it 10 Pm over there?
22:02: westbaystars: A throw to first to keep the runner close.
22:02: westbaystars: Yes. Just passed 10:00.
22:02: westbaystars: This time Kuji lays down a bunt just between home and the pitcher's mound.
22:03: westbaystars: The only play is to first.
22:03: westbaystars: The sacrifice is successful.
22:03: westbaystars: More importantly, Hanshin avoids a double play.
22:03: westbaystars: Yano comes up next.
22:03: westbaystars: He's been the breaks for the Tigers up until now.
22:04: westbaystars: He lifts the ball to the right side, and Abe runs it down near the first base coach's box.
22:04: westbaystars: That was a long run for the catcher, but he got there and took the ball in for out number two.
22:05: westbaystars: Hirashita, who came in as a pinch runner for Arias, steps in for his first at bat.
22:05: westbaystars: The Giants are trying to re-position Rhodes in left.
22:06: westbaystars: His attention is finally gotten, and Rhodes moves a little more toward center.
22:08: westbaystars: Kawahara's 2-2 pitch is grounded to the left side.
22:08: westbaystars: Nioka dives and gets the ball.
22:08: westbaystars: He stands, throws to first,
22:08: westbaystars: safe!
22:09: westbaystars: Runners now at the corners, two out, Akahoshi coming to the plate.
22:09: MHStevie: Whew...
22:09: westbaystars: We have a meeting at the mound to discuss how the infield will play this.
22:10: westbaystars: They decide to get an out where ever they can.
22:10: westbaystars: And Akahoshi takes ball one outside.
22:10: westbaystars: Akahoshi lines the ball to left-center.
22:11: westbaystars: Suzuki makes a diving try.
22:11: westbaystars: He misses the ball!
22:11: westbaystars: The ball goes on to the fense.
22:11: westbaystars: The game is tied.
22:11: westbaystars: As Rhodes comes over to field the ball,
22:11: westbaystars: The runner scores from first!
22:11: westbaystars: Sayonara! Sayonara! Sayonara!
22:12: westbaystars: Akahoshi has a game winning triple!
22:12: MHStevie: WOW!
22:12: westbaystars: A little delayed, I know hear the "jetto fusen" (jet balloons) in the background.
22:12: westbaystars: The fans give three "banzai"s, and shoot off more balloons.
22:13: westbaystars: It doesn't get any more dramatic than that.
22:13: westbaystars: The crowd is changing, "Akahoshi, Akahoshi, Akahoshi."
22:13: westbaystars: Now the man of the hour comes out to more chears for the hero interview.
22:14: habs: help me out what is Sayonara?
22:14: westbaystars: With the team motto, "Never, never, never surrender" on the hero board behind him, and out of breath Akahoshi speaks.
22:15: westbaystars: "Sayonara" is "good bye." Or in this case, the "sayonara hit" is a "walk off base hit>"
22:16: habs: what a game
22:16: westbaystars: Fans all over the stadium are holding up red stars. Akahoshi's name is literally "Red Star."
22:17: westbaystars: Wow! That was an exciting game. I really like this kind of close game where you don't know which way it'll go.
22:18: westbaystars: ---
22:18: westbaystars: Game Final
22:18: westbaystars: Giants 4 - 5 Tigers
22:19: westbaystars: ---
22:19: habs: alot better than last week
22:20: westbaystars: Yea, the blow out last week was over too soon, but then lasted too long.
22:20: westbaystars: This game took more time, but was so much more exciting.
22:21: habs: mhstevie put it on his radio station
22:21: westbaystars: I can only hope that you could feel half the excitement on your end.
22:22: westbaystars: The more that can hear about games like this, the better.
22:23: habs: It is exciting. You do a great job.
22:25: westbaystars: If that's it, I'll post the transcript.
22:25: habs: It is all so fun to learn your sayings and what the fans do
22:26: westbaystars: That's why it'd be great if ESPN or some other network would start showing these games.
22:26: westbaystars: You're getting a filtered version of the excitement.
22:28: westbaystars: Well, good morning, afternoon, night to you all.
The transcript below contains all of my errors, including where I jumped from the top of the sixth to the bottom of the seventh in keeping track of the innings. I figured it out in the middle of the top of the seventh.
Otherwise, unlike the blow out last week, this one keeps you going, not knowing how it'll end until the geki-tekina ending.
Enjoy.
TRANSCRIPT generated on: 2004/05/23 22:29
CHATROOM: Game of the Week/Giants vs. Tigers @ Koshien
MODERATORS: westbaystars
17:57: westbaystars: ---
17:58: westbaystars: Top of First
17:58: westbaystars: ---
17:59: westbaystars: It's been a grey day all day in the Kanto Area, but it looks like a beautiful blue sky over Koshien Stadium.
18:00: westbaystars: Shimoyanagi will be starting for Hanshin.
18:00: westbaystars: His first pitch to Giant lead-off hitter Nishi is taken for strike one.
18:00: westbaystars: This game is now under way.
18:03: westbaystars: Six pitches later, Nishi takes ball three to run the count full.
18:03: westbaystars: The shobu pitch is drilled over the third baseman and into left field.
18:03: westbaystars: The Giants have their lead-off runner on.
18:04: westbaystars: Shimizu follows.
18:06: westbaystars: And he slaps the ball the other way to left, but well within Kanemoto's range to get. One out.
18:07: westbaystars: That'll bring up Rhodes.
18:07: westbaystars: Rhodes shakes his bat, and grounds the first pitch one one hop over Shimoyanagi.
18:08: westbaystars: With the Rhodes shift in place, Fujimoto fields the ball amost on the second base bag, takes the step for the force,
18:08: westbaystars: then throws to first to retire the side.
18:09: westbaystars: The Giants got their lead-off runner on, but are retired three up, three down.
18:09: westbaystars: ---
18:09: westbaystars: Bottom of First
18:09: westbaystars: ---
18:10: westbaystars: Kubo takes the mound for the Giants.
18:10: westbaystars: And his first pitch of the game is lined up the middle for a base hit by Akahoshi.
18:11: westbaystars: Unlike Nishi, Akahoshi is a real threat to steal. That'll put a lot of pressure on Kubo.
18:11: westbaystars: And before Kubo throws to Fujimoto, he throws over to first.
18:13: westbaystars: Fujimoto grounds to Petagine at first. He throws the ball to second to force Akahoshi,
18:13: westbaystars: but the relay to first is not in time.
18:14: westbaystars: We have an exchange of the runner at first.
18:14: westbaystars: Imaoka comes up next.
18:15: westbaystars: After two quick strikes on Imaoka, Kubo throws way outside for ball one. Why won't he challenge him?
18:16: westbaystars: The next pitch is way inside. This is how you increase your pitch count ineffectively!
18:17: westbaystars: The 2-2 pitch is lunged for low and away and lifted to straight away center.
18:17: westbaystars: Rhodes takes a couple of steps in and grabs the ball for the out.
18:17: westbaystars: That'll bring up Kanemoto.
18:18: westbaystars: And he lines the ball to the right-center gap.
18:18: westbaystars: Fujimoto is off to the races. He's rounding third and coming home. No throw!
18:18: westbaystars: Hanshin scores first on an RBI double by Kanemoto.
18:19: westbaystars: Hiyama comes up to the plate.
18:20: westbaystars: It sounds like he breaks his bat as he grounds weakly to Petagine at first.
18:20: westbaystars: All in one motion, Peta-chan fields the ball and makes the final out himself at first.
18:21: westbaystars: The side is retired.
18:21: westbaystars: But not before Hanshin gets on the board first, taking an early 1-0 lead.
18:21: westbaystars: ---
18:21: westbaystars: Top of Second
18:21: westbaystars: ---
18:23: westbaystars: Giants' number four batter Takahashi grounds out to Imaoka at second on the first pitch of the second.
18:23: westbaystars: One quick out.
18:23: westbaystars: That brings up Petagine.
18:24: westbaystars: And he grounds the ball through the left side of the infield for a base hit.
18:24: westbaystars: Former Hawk number for batter Kokubo comes up.
18:26: westbaystars: And he goes down swinging for out number two.
18:27: westbaystars: Abe, hitting .830 with a runner on first (if I read that correctly), grounds the ball to Fujimoto at short, who tosses
18:27: westbaystars: to Imaoka on second, and the side is retired.
18:28: westbaystars: The Giants had a one out hit, but haven't gotten to second base yet.
18:28: westbaystars: ---
18:28: westbaystars: Bottom of Second
18:28: westbaystars: ---
18:29: westbaystars: Sekimoto leads off the bottom half of the second for Hanshin.
18:32: westbaystars: And he lines a grounder up the middle after a number of foul balls. Base hit.
18:32: westbaystars: Hanshin's lead-off man is on.
18:32: westbaystars: Torotani, Hanshin's "Golden Rookie" for this year, comes up to bat.
18:33: westbaystars: He hasn't been very "golden" so far, hitting only .125.
18:34: westbaystars: And he goes down swinging at an outside pitch for the first out of the inning.
18:34: westbaystars: That brings up catcher Yano.
18:35: westbaystars: But Yano grounds into an easy 4-6-3 double play, and Kubo is out of the inning on three batters.
18:35: westbaystars: At the end of two complete, the score remains: Giants 0 - 1 Hanshin.
18:36: westbaystars: ---
18:36: westbaystars: Top of Third
18:36: westbaystars: ---
18:37: westbaystars: Nioka leads off the third.
18:39: westbaystars: Now Shimoyanagi wastes two pitches after getting two strikes on the batter. He was doing better earlier.
18:39: westbaystars: The 2-2 pitch is grounded up the middle.
18:39: westbaystars: Imaoka makes a great stab, turns and fires to first - high.
18:40: westbaystars: But Sekimoto snow-cones the ball with a toe on the bag. Out!
18:40: westbaystars: Kubo grounds to the right side. Sekimoto fields the ball going toward second.
18:40: westbaystars: He shouvels the ball to Shimoyanagi covering. Two down.,
18:41: westbaystars: That brings us to the top of the Giants' order in Nishi.
18:41: westbaystars: And Nishi gets his second hit of the evening, drilling the ball through the left side of the infield.
18:42: westbaystars: The Giants get a two out base runner.
18:43: westbaystars: That'll bring up Shimizu who surpassed the career 1,000 hit mark earlier this week.
18:45: westbaystars: And Shimoyanagi goes full count to Shimizu.
18:46: westbaystars: Then gets Shimizu swinging at a ball way low on the outside part of the plate.
18:46: westbaystars: Strike three, the side is retired.
18:46: westbaystars: The Giants got their third hit of the game, but still have nothing to show for it.
18:46: westbaystars: ---
18:46: westbaystars: Bottom of Third
18:46: westbaystars: ---
18:47: westbaystars: Shimoyanagi leads off.
18:48: westbaystars: And he looks a lot better with the bat than he has the other times I've seen him.
18:48: westbaystars: Although he grounds out to the pitcher in the end.
18:48: westbaystars: One out.
18:48: westbaystars: That brings us to the top of the Tiger order in Akahoshi.
18:49: westbaystars: He fakes bunt and takes ball one.
18:50: westbaystars: Akahoshi lifts a high fly ball to shallow right on a full count pitch.
18:51: westbaystars: Nishi goes back. Takahashi comes in. It looks like it might fall in.
18:51: westbaystars: But Nishi reaches out on the run and makes the catch.
18:51: westbaystars: Two down.
18:51: westbaystars: Fujimoto hits Kubo's first offering to him the other way into left field, base hit.
18:52: westbaystars: That brings up Imaoka.
18:55: westbaystars: Imaoka hits the ball up the middle weakly.
18:56: westbaystars: Nioka fields the ball and steps on second - but not in time to get Fujimoto.
18:56: westbaystars: So he throws to first, and Imaoka is out. The side is retired.
18:56: westbaystars: ---
18:56: westbaystars: Top of Fourth
18:56: westbaystars: ---
18:58: westbaystars: Rhodes leads off and lines a base hit to left on the first pitch.
19:00: westbaystars: Takahashi strikes out swinging for the second out.
19:00: westbaystars: Sorry, first out.
19:01: westbaystars: That brings up Petagine.
19:02: westbaystars: And Peta-chan hits a high one hopper to first.
19:02: westbaystars: The throw to second gets one,
19:02: westbaystars: the relay back to first is in time, double play.
19:03: westbaystars: The Giants get another base runner with nothing to show.
19:04: westbaystars: ---
19:04: westbaystars: Bottom of Fourth
19:04: westbaystars: ---
19:04: westbaystars: Kamemoto leads off the bottom half of the fourth.
19:05: westbaystars: And this time Kubo has to work to bring the count full.
19:06: westbaystars: After fouling off a number of pitches, Kanemoto lifts the ball to left field.
19:07: westbaystars: Shimizu is looking up and lifting his shoulders - signalling he doesn't see the ball.
19:07: westbaystars: With Nioka running out, the ball drops in.
19:07: westbaystars: It's rulled a base hit.
19:07: westbaystars: Actually, a double.
19:08: westbaystars: Hiyama grounds to the right side of the infield.
19:08: westbaystars: While Nishi throws Hiyama out, Kanemoto moves over to third.
19:08: westbaystars: That'll bring up Sekimoto.
19:09: westbaystars: Sekimoto has been doing a very good job substituting at first, hitting .302 going into the game.
19:10: westbaystars: But he grounds the ball right back to Kubo on the mound.
19:10: westbaystars: Kubo looks Kanemoto back, and throws Sekimoto out.
19:10: westbaystars: Two down, runner at third.
19:10: westbaystars: Toritani comes up next.
19:12: westbaystars: And he gets his fifth hit of the season, an RBI single through the right side of the infield!
19:12: westbaystars: The Tigers go up 2-0.
19:12: westbaystars: That's a big run against a team that can hit the ball over the fense at any time.
19:13: westbaystars: Kubo's first pitch to Yano knocks him down!
19:13: westbaystars: The fans are getting restless with that high and tight pitch.
19:13: westbaystars: The next pitch just hits the outside part of the plate for strike one.
19:14: westbaystars: And the 1-1 pitch is lifted to shallow left-center.
19:14: westbaystars: Nioka has this one in sight all the way, as does Shimizu coming over and yielding to Nioka.
19:14: westbaystars: Just as Nioka catches the ball, he backs into Rhodes who came in, knocking Rhodes down.
19:15: westbaystars: But with the out, Rhodes bounces up and runs into the dugout with the rest of the Giants.
19:15: westbaystars: Call the ball, someone!
19:16: westbaystars: But the Tigers got another run thanks to the mis-judged fly ball by Shimizu in left.
19:16: westbaystars: ---
19:16: westbaystars: Top of Fifth
19:16: westbaystars: ---
19:17: westbaystars: Kokubo leads off the fifth for the Giants.
19:18: westbaystars: And the count goes full to him.
19:19: westbaystars: The shoubu pitch is grounded to first where Sekimoto fields it going toward second.
19:19: westbaystars: Shimoyanagi comes over to cover, takes the throw a little awkward.
19:19: westbaystars: But for the first out nonetheless.
19:20: westbaystars: That brings up Abe, the current home run leader in both leagues.
19:20: westbaystars: And he rips a line drive up the middle for a base hit.
19:21: westbaystars: That brings up Nioka. Nioka has recently been brought back up after rehabilitation.
19:25: westbaystars: Nioka grounds to Imaoka at second.
19:25: westbaystars: He throws to second and just barely gets the force on Abe sliding in.
19:25: westbaystars: There is no throw to first.
19:25: westbaystars: Two down. Runner at first exchanged.
19:26: westbaystars: That brings up Kubo, who's celebrating his 24th birthday today.
19:27: westbaystars: He hasn't had much to celebrate so far, though.
19:27: westbaystars: Shimoyanagi goes full count to the opposing pitcher as Kubo won't go fishing.
19:28: westbaystars: The full count pitch is grounded to third.
19:28: westbaystars: Torinati plays the high hop and fires to first for the final out of the inning.
19:28: westbaystars: That retires the side.
19:28: westbaystars: ---
19:28: westbaystars: Bottom of Fifth
19:28: westbaystars: ---
19:30: westbaystars: Shimoyanagi leads off the Hanshin half of the fifth by grounding Kubo's first pitch back to him.
19:30: westbaystars: The toss to first is well in time. One out.
19:30: westbaystars: To the top of the order in Akahoshi.
19:31: westbaystars: He slaps Kubo's first offering to him right at Nioka at short.
19:31: westbaystars: The throw to first is well before the speedy Akahoshi.
19:31: westbaystars: Two pitches, two outs.
19:31: westbaystars: Fujimoto takes Kubo's first pitch, high for ball one.
19:33: westbaystars: This time Kubo has to work to full count.
19:34: westbaystars: After fouling off a full count pitch, Fujimoto slaps the ball the other way up the left side.
19:34: westbaystars: This is going into the corner, and Fujimoto is standing on second well before Shimizu fires the ball in.
19:34: westbaystars: Two out runner in scoring position.
19:34: westbaystars: That brings up Imaoka.
19:35: westbaystars: Imaoka goes the other way to right, but Takahashi only has to come is a few steps to take it in and retire the side.
19:36: westbaystars: ---
19:36: westbaystars: At the end of five complete, Hanshin continues to lead 2-0.
19:36: westbaystars: Top of Sixth
19:36: westbaystars: ---
19:39: westbaystars: Two for two Nishi leads off for the Giants.
19:39: westbaystars: Nishi surpassed 1,000 career hits on May 2 and 100 career home runs on May 9 earlier this month.
19:40: westbaystars: Nishi doesn't make it three for three as he grounds out to Fujimoto at short.
19:41: westbaystars: One out.
19:41: westbaystars: Shimizu comes up next.
19:42: westbaystars: Now, Shimoyanagi is ahead with two strikes and no balls.
19:42: westbaystars: What is the next pitch?
19:42: westbaystars: A good one!
19:42: westbaystars: And Shimizu lifts it to Hiyama in right. Two quick outs.
19:42: westbaystars: That brings up Rhodes.
19:43: westbaystars: Rhodes shakes his bat and swings and misses. Strike one.
19:44: westbaystars: Three pitches later, Rhodes strikes out looking at strike three down the middle.
19:45: westbaystars: The side is retired in order.
19:45: westbaystars: ---
19:45: westbaystars: Bottom of Seventh
19:45: westbaystars: ---
19:46: westbaystars: Kanemoto, with a pair of doubles in two at bats, steps in.
19:48: westbaystars: But not this time. He watches strike three go by on a full count.
19:49: westbaystars: One down.
19:49: westbaystars: Hiyama comes up next and grounds Kubo's second pitch up the middle, just past a lunging Nishi.
19:50: westbaystars: Base hit.
19:50: westbaystars: That brings up Sekimoto.
19:51: westbaystars: And Sekimoto keeps it going, grounding a base hit through the left side.
19:51: westbaystars: One out with runners at first and second.
19:52: westbaystars: Toritani, who had an RBI single his last at bat steps in.
19:53: westbaystars: The entire right field stands are chearing in unison, like a single organism.
19:54: westbaystars: And he walks on five pitches. Bases are loaded.
19:54: westbaystars: This is far and away the biggest pinch Kubo's been in all night.
19:54: westbaystars: And Yano steps up to the plate.
19:55: westbaystars: Shimoyanagi is in the on-deck circle.
19:56: westbaystars: Kubo falls behind, one strike, three balls, to Yano.
19:57: westbaystars: The next pitch, swing on and fouled away.
19:57: westbaystars: Full count.
19:57: westbaystars: And another foul, back behind the plate and into the stands.
19:58: westbaystars: The next pitch is swung on and missed, strike three!
19:58: westbaystars: It was a border-line pitch low and over the plate.
19:58: westbaystars: Good pitch.
19:59: westbaystars: That brings up Shimoyanagi who is 0 for 12 this season.
19:59: westbaystars: He's cutting at the ball pretty well, fouling off a couple of pitches to go behind two strikes, no balls.
20:00: westbaystars: The next pitch is outside and high, ball one.
20:00: westbaystars: Shimoyanagi fouls the next pitch off the plate and into the catcher's glove.
20:01: westbaystars: Kubo's next offering is taken for ball two, 2-2.
20:02: westbaystars: And Kubo gets Shimoyanagi to swing at an outside pitch belt high for strike three.
20:02: westbaystars: That retires the side, stranding bases loaded.
20:02: westbaystars: But at the end of seven complete, Hanshin continues to lead 2-0.
20:02: westbaystars: ---
20:02: MHStevie: *sigh* Sorry... I'm late...
20:02: westbaystars: Top of Eighth
20:02: westbaystars: ---
20:02: westbaystars: It's a pretty fast paces game tonight.
20:03: MHStevie: Looks like it...
20:04: westbaystars: Shimoyanagi has thrown 80 pitches so far, striking out four, allowing five hits, and walking none.
20:04: MHStevie: I hope the game lasts until my first on-air update... =)
20:04: westbaystars: Takahashi leads off for the Giants.
20:04: westbaystars: Which is?
20:05: MHStevie: About 15 minutes away...
20:05: westbaystars: No problem.
20:05: westbaystars: The count goes to two and two to Takahashi.
20:06: westbaystars: The next pitch is grounded right to Imaoka at second.
20:06: westbaystars: The throw to first is in plenty of time. One out.
20:06: westbaystars: That brings up Petagine.
20:07: MHStevie: When you have a moment, who did the scoring for Hanshin?
20:07: westbaystars: Petagine is in because Kiyohara, 9 hits away from 2,000, was hit in his left pinky finger last night and is
20:07: westbaystars: out of the lineup.
20:07: westbaystars: Kanemoto drove in Fujimoto with a double in the first.
20:08: westbaystars: Then Kanemoto got a lucky double that Shimizu lost in left, and was driven in by Toritani.
20:08: westbaystars: Petagine lifts the ball high to center.
20:08: westbaystars: But not deep.
20:09: westbaystars: Akahoshi comes in and over to take the ball in for out number two.
20:09: westbaystars: That brings up Kokubo.
20:09: westbaystars: He lifts the ball deep to center.
20:09: westbaystars: Haitta!
20:09: westbaystars: Home run into the balloon filled left-center seats.
20:10: westbaystars: Hey, that makes this the seventh inning.
20:10: MHStevie: There goes the shutout!
20:10: westbaystars: Looks like I got off by an inning somewhere.
20:10: MHStevie: Hmmm? How so?
20:10: westbaystars: That's why that second run was so important. The odds are that the Giants will hit a home run at some point.
20:10: MHStevie: Wouldn't the balloons have been released before the bottom of the 7th?
20:11: westbaystars: The fans shoot off balloon for the "Lucky Seven" at bat.
20:11: MHStevie: Or have they not released the balloons yet?
20:11: westbaystars: Right, so it's the top of the seventh. The balloons are all in release position.
20:12: westbaystars: In the mean time, Shimoyanagi goes 2-2 to Abe, a serious home run thread, currently leading the Central Legue in all
20:12: westbaystars: three Triple Crown categories.
20:13: westbaystars: Now we have a full count.
20:13: MHStevie: Understood... that makes sense...
20:13: westbaystars: And he fouls the ball off his own body.
20:13: westbaystars: The next pitch is reached for, and pulled to Imaoka at second.
20:13: westbaystars: The throw to first retires the side.
20:14: westbaystars: So, we go to the bottom of the seventh with Hanshin leading 2-0.
20:14: westbaystars: ---
20:14: westbaystars: Bottom of Seventh
20:14: westbaystars: ---
20:14: MHStevie: 2-1
20:15: MHStevie: By the way, what inning did Toritani drive Kanemoto in to score?
20:16: westbaystars: Ah, the score is 2-1.
20:16: westbaystars: That was back in the 4th.
20:17: westbaystars: Maeda comes in to pitch for the Giants this inning.
20:17: westbaystars: He faces the top of the Hanshin order in Akahoshi.
20:18: westbaystars: He lines the ball to the left side.
20:19: westbaystars: And Kokubo, with no time to react, leaps and grabs the ball.
20:19: westbaystars: Great catch!
20:19: westbaystars: And one out.
20:19: westbaystars: That brings up Fujimoto.
20:19: westbaystars: In the first, Fujimoto grounded into a force play to reach base.
20:19: westbaystars: Then scored from first on Kanemoto's double.
20:20: westbaystars: He slices the ball up the middle, but Nioka fields the ball and throws him out.
20:20: westbaystars: Two outs.
20:20: westbaystars: That brings up Imaoka.
20:21: westbaystars: And on his first pitch, he grounds the ball on a short hop stabbed by Kokubo on the run.
20:21: westbaystars: He throws to first, and the Tigers are down in order.
20:21: westbaystars: Not so Lucky Seven this evening.
20:21: westbaystars: ---
20:21: westbaystars: Top of Eighth
20:21: westbaystars: ---
20:22: westbaystars: Rigan takes over on the mound, now that the shutout is out the window.
20:23: westbaystars: Sorry, that's Riggan.
20:23: westbaystars: Foreign names are so hard to spell sometimes.
20:24: westbaystars: The first batter he faces is Nioka, who flies out to Akahoshi in center on his first pitch.
20:24: westbaystars: One quick out.
20:24: westbaystars: That brings up Gotoh to pinch hit for the pitcher.
20:26: westbaystars: And Gotoh walks on five pitches.
20:26: westbaystars: That will bring us to the top of the order in Nishi.
20:28: westbaystars: Riggan's front foot slips on his second delivery to Nishi, the ball going way outside to bring the count even at 1-1.
20:28: westbaystars: He does some grounds keeping of the mound with his spikes, and throws ball two without slipping.
20:28: westbaystars: The next pitch is fouled away, the count goes to 2-2.
20:28: westbaystars: Gotoh is almost picked off of first.
20:29: westbaystars: With the runner on the move, Nishi fouls the ball off to the right side and out of play.
20:30: westbaystars: The next pitch is swung on and missed, strike three!
20:30: westbaystars: That brings us to two down and a runner on first with Shimizu coming to the plate.
20:32: westbaystars: Shimizu lifts the ball deep to left.
20:32: westbaystars: But not deep enough.
20:32: westbaystars: Kanemoto comes over toward center and fields the ball for the final out.
20:32: westbaystars: The Giants got a base runner, but fail to score without a home run.
20:32: westbaystars: ---
20:32: westbaystars: Bottom of Eighth
20:32: westbaystars: ---
20:35: MHStevie: By the way, nice game for Yokohama yesterday... 12-inning victory!
20:36: westbaystars: Okajima comes in to pitch for the Giants.
20:36: westbaystars: Yea, I watched that to the end.
20:37: MHStevie: That must have been exciting... I just read the boxscore... =)
20:37: westbaystars: When Gailard blew the lead in the 8th I got very nervous, because it would interrupt Sasaki's routine.
20:38: westbaystars: And sure enough, Sasaki gave up that home run to Alex in the 12th.
20:38: westbaystars: Then when Woods hit that home run - no doubt about it off the bat!
20:38: westbaystars: That was great.
20:38: MHStevie: Woods really came up big to support Sasaki, though...
20:38: westbaystars: Kanemto strikes out watching. One out.
20:39: westbaystars: I'm much more impressed with Woods this year than last.
20:39: westbaystars: He may not be hitting as many home runs, but the ones he hits really count.
20:39: westbaystars: Many more RBIs with the higher batting average as well.
20:40: westbaystars: Habs-san hasn't come by this evening, yet.
20:40: westbaystars: I had bad news about Walker's start this afternoon. I.e., he lost.
20:41: westbaystars: I know (s)he wants to know about Walker, but how do I present such bad news?
20:41: westbaystars: Hiyama works the count full.
20:42: westbaystars: He takes ball four, that goes through Abe's legs.
20:42: westbaystars: Hiyama runs up the line thinking he might get an extra base, but holds at first.
20:42: MHStevie: Every pitcher has bad starts... I don't think you need to sugar coat it... =)
20:43: westbaystars: That brings up Sekimoto, 2 for 3 this evening.
20:43: westbaystars: Sekimoto lines Shimada's first pitch to right for a base hit.
20:44: westbaystars: That puts runners at first and second with one out.
20:44: westbaystars: Pinch hitter Yagi is coming to the plate.
20:44: westbaystars: And the Giants send out their pitching coach and interpreter.
20:45: westbaystars: No, the interpreter isn't for Shimada. It's for Sikorski coming in.
20:47: westbaystars: Sikorski's first pitch is lifted to center.
20:48: westbaystars: Rhodes comes over and takes the ball in.
20:48: westbaystars: Hiyama touches up at second and takes off for third!
20:48: westbaystars: Rhodes' throw to third is a one bounder that Kokubo misses!
20:49: westbaystars: But Abe had it backed up, and Hiyama holds at third.
20:49: westbaystars: The play is being ruled an error to allow the base runner to advance.
20:49: westbaystars: Yano comes up with Arias on-deck to pinch hit for the pitcher.
20:50: MHStevie: Looking back in this inning, when did Shimada come in to pitch?
20:51: westbaystars: Shimada started the inning.
20:51: westbaystars: Yano swings and misses for strike two. The count is even at 2-2.
20:52: westbaystars: The next pitch is high, full count.
20:52: MHStevie: Oh... you said Okajima at the beginning, so I was confused.
20:52: westbaystars: Oh, now I'm not sure.
20:53: westbaystars: In that case, it was Okajima who pitched until Sikorski.
20:53: westbaystars: Who just struck out Yano swinging to retire the side.
20:54: MHStevie: Yeah, Yahoo! shows Okajima...
20:54: westbaystars: Going to the nineth inning, Hanshin holds onto their one run lead.
20:54: westbaystars: ---
20:54: westbaystars: Top of Nineth
20:54: westbaystars: ---
20:55: westbaystars: Williams comes in to close for Hanshin.
20:56: westbaystars: The Ausie will face the quartet of #4 batters in Rhodes, Takahashi, Petagine, and Kokubo.
20:56: westbaystars: And Williams throws a strike to Rhodes for his first pitch.
20:57: westbaystars: The next pitch is taken, just inside for ball one.
20:57: westbaystars: Rhodes shakes his bat, then swings and misses for strike two.
20:58: westbaystars: Rhodes then takes strike three on the inside corner, and drops his bat.
20:58: westbaystars: Rhodes retires to the dugout. One out.
20:58: westbaystars: Takahashi takes strike one.
20:59: westbaystars: And swings and misses the ball outside, strike two.
20:59: westbaystars: Williams looks like he's on tonight.
20:59: westbaystars: The next pitch, a slider outside is ball one.
21:00: westbaystars: And another ball outside and up.
21:00: westbaystars: And we just passed the three hour mark for this game.
21:00: westbaystars: Followed by a base hit through the left side of the infield.
21:00: westbaystars: That'll bring up Petagine.
21:01: westbaystars: Peta-chan had a base hit his first at bat to lead off the second.
21:01: westbaystars: No, it was a one-out base hit in the second.
21:02: westbaystars: And he swings big here for strike one (to two balls).
21:02: westbaystars: The next pitch, straight, is fouled off the left side and out of play.
21:03: westbaystars: Petagine takes inside, full count.
21:03: westbaystars: We have a throw over to first, as I was starting to think that Williams' motion was too long and someone might steal.
21:04: westbaystars: The next pitch is swung on and missed! Strike three.
21:04: westbaystars: The Giants are down to their last out.
21:04: westbaystars: Kokubo represents their last hope.
21:04: westbaystars: And the fans have balloons at the ready for the victory release.
21:05: westbaystars: Williams goes in the hole with two straight balls to Kokubo.
21:06: westbaystars: With the rhythem of the fans in the background, Williams fires over strike one.
21:06: westbaystars: The next pitch brings the count even, called strike two.
21:06: westbaystars: Balloons are bouncing in unison.
21:06: westbaystars: The next pitch, just misses!
21:06: westbaystars: Full count.
21:06: westbaystars: I don't know how Kokubo took that pitch.
21:07: westbaystars: Last ball, fouled.
21:07: westbaystars: We'll do it again.
21:07: westbaystars: Abe takes his swings in the on-deck circle.
21:07: westbaystars: Williams delivers, lifted deep,
21:07: westbaystars: Haittaaaaaaaaaaaa!
21:08: westbaystars: Gyaku-ten!
21:08: westbaystars: Kokubo hits his second home run of the game, a come from behind, full count, two run shot!
21:08: westbaystars: The Giants take the lead for the first time this evening.
21:09: westbaystars: Abe gets hit on the elbow guard, and runs up to first.
21:09: westbaystars: Shimoyanagi looks on worriedly - losing his win.
21:10: westbaystars: There's a short meeting on the mound with the pitching coach.
21:10: westbaystars: Now Nioka stands in.
21:11: westbaystars: And we have two quick strikes as Nioka doesn't look at all like he's got the right timing.
21:11: MHStevie: Kokubo stares down a big pitch at 2-2, and then nails one...
21:11: westbaystars: The third pitch is hit right to first.
21:11: MHStevie: Greetings, habs!
21:11: westbaystars: Sekimoto goes to the bag himself, and the side is retired.
21:11: westbaystars: But not before Kokubo put the Giants on top with his big two run home run.
21:12: westbaystars: Going to the bottom of the ninth, the Giants now lead 3-2.
21:12: westbaystars: ---
21:12: westbaystars: Bottom of Nineth
21:12: westbaystars: ---
21:12: MHStevie: Suddenly Hanshin's backs are against the wall...
21:12: westbaystars: But so far this season, the Giants are 0 for 12 in games that they've only scored 0-3 runs in.
21:13: westbaystars: Arias comes up to pinch hit for Williams.
21:14: westbaystars: Sikorski is still on the mound for the Giants.
21:14: westbaystars: Habs-san, Walker pitched today, but got tagged for the loss.
21:14: westbaystars: Two 2-run home runs did him in.
21:15: westbaystars: Arias lines a 2-2 pitch to right center for a lead-off single.
21:15: westbaystars: He then jogs to the dugout for a pinch runner.
21:16: westbaystars: This is the game tying run on first.
21:16: westbaystars: And it will be in the person of Hirashita.
21:17: westbaystars: Akahoshi comes up.
21:17: westbaystars: And Sikorski gets ahead with two quick strikes.
21:18: westbaystars: And inside pitch is fouled off.
21:19: westbaystars: The next pitch is outside, ball one.
21:19: habs: greetings I had a blank screen first time on
21:19: MHStevie: Greetings!
21:19: westbaystars: Odd, I wonder why that happened.
21:20: westbaystars: The next pitch, a change up, is swung on and missed.
21:20: westbaystars: He was swinging way late.
21:20: habs: I see pete is getting tagged with a lot of home runs
21:21: westbaystars: One out.
21:21: westbaystars: Fujimoto comes up next.
21:21: westbaystars: Pete pitched into a number of jams, first and third, bases loaded, and worked out of them.
21:21: westbaystars: But home runs are costing him.
21:22: westbaystars: It's as though he pitches better with runners in scoring position.
21:22: westbaystars: With the runner going, Fujimoto grounds to Kokubo at third.
21:23: westbaystars: Kokubo looks to second. Then throws to first to get the sure out.
21:23: westbaystars: Hirashita moves to second, and the out count is increased to two.
21:23: westbaystars: That brings up Imaoka.
21:24: westbaystars: Sikorski gets two quick strikes on Imaoka.
21:24: westbaystars: The next pitch is lined deep to right!
21:25: westbaystars: It goes over Takahashi's head!
21:25: westbaystars: And bounces in the warning track.
21:25: westbaystars: Hirashita scores easilly from second on the stand up double.
21:25: westbaystars: We have a tie game!
21:25: habs: my computer is really slow
21:25: westbaystars: Kanemoto comes up, and Abe stands up.
21:26: westbaystars: The fans are booing as Sikorski intentionally walks Kanemoto.
21:26: MHStevie: All right! Last week was an anomaly... I've got another close one to report on!
21:27: westbaystars: That brings up Hiyama.
21:27: westbaystars: And he swings and misses a pitch way outside and low.
21:27: habs: last week I closed my eyes next thing I know screen was off
21:28: westbaystars: Refresh rate is every 30 seconds.
21:29: westbaystars: Was the screen off after no activity? If you don't type or move the mouse, the screen saver will kick in.
21:29: westbaystars: That happens a lot when I'm just reading something.
21:29: habs: nothing wrong your end I fell a sleep
21:29: westbaystars: The count is now 2-2. Sikorski's sixth pitch is fouled away. Hiyama stays alive.
21:30: westbaystars: That'll happen, too.
21:30: westbaystars: Hiyama slices the ball the other way to left.
21:30: westbaystars: But not deep enough.
21:30: westbaystars: Rhodes hardly moves to take the ball in, and the side is retired.
21:31: westbaystars: But the Tigers managed to tie the game.
21:31: westbaystars: Going to extra innings, we have a 3-3 ball game.
21:31: westbaystars: ---
21:31: MHStevie: Extra innings at Koshien!
21:31: westbaystars: Top of Tenth
21:31: westbaystars: ---
21:31: habs: pete usally gets almoet a weeks rest what happened with that
21:32: westbaystars: Personally, I like extra innings. Makes me feel like I get extra for my money.
21:32: westbaystars: I think that since he only threw five inning on Tuesday that they moved him up in the rotation.
21:32: westbaystars: It doesn't look like it worked, though.
21:33: westbaystars: Andoh comes in to pitch for Hanshin.
21:33: MHStevie: I take it all the fans had to put those victory balloons away for the moment... =)
21:33: westbaystars: Motoki pinch hits for Sikorski.
21:34: westbaystars: Yep. The balloons disappeared, then reappeared with the winning runner on second.
21:34: westbaystars: And as Motoki hits a lead taking home run right here, I don't see the balloons any more.
21:35: westbaystars: The Giants take a 4-1 lead.
21:35: westbaystars: Sorry, a 4-3 lead.
21:35: habs: whats a victory ballon?
21:36: westbaystars: That brings up the top of the order in Nishi.
21:36: westbaystars: Can you take that one, tigers1?
21:36: westbaystars: Nishi grounds to Sekimoto at first, who takes the ball to the bag by himself. One out.
21:37: westbaystars: Suzuki comes up for the first time. He came in defensively for Rhodes in center earlier.
21:38: westbaystars: And a handcuffed Suzuki managed to squeeze the ball up the middle for a base hit.
21:39: westbaystars: That brings up Rhodes. So Suzuki came in for Shimizu, and Rhodes moved to left and Suzuki to center.
21:39: westbaystars: My mistake. I just saw that Rhodes was no longer in center.
21:40: westbaystars: Suzuki then swipes second as Rhodes takes ball one to even the count at 1-1.
21:41: westbaystars: The next pitch is low and inside, ball two.
21:41: westbaystars: He then takes strike two on the outside corner. Rhodes didn't agree too much with the call.
21:42: westbaystars: Rhodes break his bat and bloops the ball over the second base bag and into shallow center field.
21:42: westbaystars: Base hit.
21:42: westbaystars: Suzuki had to hold up to see if the ball would bounce in, and only advances to third.
21:42: westbaystars: One out, runners at the corners.
21:43: westbaystars: There's a short meeting at the mound with the infielders and pitching coach.
21:43: westbaystars: Then Andoh is ready to face Takahashi.
21:44: westbaystars: And he takes strike one down the middle.
21:44: MHStevie: habs, it sounds like the Tigers fans launch balloons into the air when their team wins...
21:44: westbaystars: OK, I guess I'll explain the balloons.
21:45: MHStevie: At a couple points the fans were ready to launch, only to put them away when the Giants homered...
21:45: westbaystars: A little later.
21:45: westbaystars: In the mean time, Takahashi takes a ball, then swings at ball two way up high.
21:46: westbaystars: The next pitch is popped up to the third base coach's box where Imaoka (now at third) takes it in for out number two.
21:46: westbaystars: That brings up Petagine.
21:47: westbaystars: And Andoh has trouble finding the strike zone, getting in the hold with three straight balls.
21:47: westbaystars: And Kokubo on deck.
21:48: westbaystars: The next pitch is outside, ball four.
21:48: westbaystars: Kokubo now has the bases loades.
21:48: westbaystars: He's already hit a 1-run and game tying 2-run shot this evening.
21:48: habs: pitching change?
21:48: westbaystars: Not yet.
21:49: westbaystars: Kokubo swings and misses, strike one.
21:49: westbaystars: The next pitch is lifted to the right side, and out of play. Two quick strikes.
21:50: westbaystars: Next pitch is high, ball one.
21:50: westbaystars: The next pitch is grounded to Fujimoto at short.
21:50: westbaystars: The throw to first retires the side.
21:50: westbaystars: But not before the Giants take a 4-3 lead.
21:50: westbaystars: ---
21:50: westbaystars: Bottom of Tenth
21:51: westbaystars: --
21:51: westbaystars: One of the big "attrations" at Koshien is their balloon launches.
21:51: westbaystars: The fans have specially designed balloons that get a lot of height, but don't go a far distance.
21:51: habs: Giants still lead in team home runs for season
21:52: westbaystars: (This is to save the grounds crew from having too much of a clean up job.)
21:52: westbaystars: They launch these balloons for the bottom of the seventh ("Lucky Seven").
21:52: westbaystars: And after a win.
21:53: westbaystars: The Giants, as a team, have hit 86 (plus 3 this evening) home runs so far this season.
21:54: westbaystars: The second most home runs for a team in the Central League is Hiroshima with 59.
21:54: MHStevie: Yomiuri's living by the homer this game... two by Kokubo and one by Motoki.
21:54: westbaystars: Kawahara takes the mound for the Giants to face Sekimoto.
21:55: westbaystars: In the Pacific League, Nippon Ham has hit 67 so far, and they started their season a week earlier.
21:57: westbaystars: Kawahara goes full count to Sekimoto.
21:58: westbaystars: And Sekimoto takes ball four inside.k
21:58: westbaystars: The lead-off runner is on for Hanshin.
21:59: westbaystars: That'll bring up Kuji, who came in at short earlier in the infield shuffle.
21:59: westbaystars: Kuji squares to bunt.
21:59: westbaystars: He takes ball one.
22:00: westbaystars: We just passed the four hour mark.
22:00: westbaystars: This was looking like a fast game until the eighth.
22:00: westbaystars: Kuji takes ball two, still squaring, showing bunt.
22:01: westbaystars: Kuji squares and takes strike one. The ball was on the high end, and a little hard to lay down well.
22:02: habs: is it 10 Pm over there?
22:02: westbaystars: A throw to first to keep the runner close.
22:02: westbaystars: Yes. Just passed 10:00.
22:02: westbaystars: This time Kuji lays down a bunt just between home and the pitcher's mound.
22:03: westbaystars: The only play is to first.
22:03: westbaystars: The sacrifice is successful.
22:03: westbaystars: More importantly, Hanshin avoids a double play.
22:03: westbaystars: Yano comes up next.
22:03: westbaystars: He's been the breaks for the Tigers up until now.
22:04: westbaystars: He lifts the ball to the right side, and Abe runs it down near the first base coach's box.
22:04: westbaystars: That was a long run for the catcher, but he got there and took the ball in for out number two.
22:05: westbaystars: Hirashita, who came in as a pinch runner for Arias, steps in for his first at bat.
22:05: westbaystars: The Giants are trying to re-position Rhodes in left.
22:06: westbaystars: His attention is finally gotten, and Rhodes moves a little more toward center.
22:08: westbaystars: Kawahara's 2-2 pitch is grounded to the left side.
22:08: westbaystars: Nioka dives and gets the ball.
22:08: westbaystars: He stands, throws to first,
22:08: westbaystars: safe!
22:09: westbaystars: Runners now at the corners, two out, Akahoshi coming to the plate.
22:09: MHStevie: Whew...
22:09: westbaystars: We have a meeting at the mound to discuss how the infield will play this.
22:10: westbaystars: They decide to get an out where ever they can.
22:10: westbaystars: And Akahoshi takes ball one outside.
22:10: westbaystars: Akahoshi lines the ball to left-center.
22:11: westbaystars: Suzuki makes a diving try.
22:11: westbaystars: He misses the ball!
22:11: westbaystars: The ball goes on to the fense.
22:11: westbaystars: The game is tied.
22:11: westbaystars: As Rhodes comes over to field the ball,
22:11: westbaystars: The runner scores from first!
22:11: westbaystars: Sayonara! Sayonara! Sayonara!
22:12: westbaystars: Akahoshi has a game winning triple!
22:12: MHStevie: WOW!
22:12: westbaystars: A little delayed, I know hear the "jetto fusen" (jet balloons) in the background.
22:12: westbaystars: The fans give three "banzai"s, and shoot off more balloons.
22:13: westbaystars: It doesn't get any more dramatic than that.
22:13: westbaystars: The crowd is changing, "Akahoshi, Akahoshi, Akahoshi."
22:13: westbaystars: Now the man of the hour comes out to more chears for the hero interview.
22:14: habs: help me out what is Sayonara?
22:14: westbaystars: With the team motto, "Never, never, never surrender" on the hero board behind him, and out of breath Akahoshi speaks.
22:15: westbaystars: "Sayonara" is "good bye." Or in this case, the "sayonara hit" is a "walk off base hit>"
22:16: habs: what a game
22:16: westbaystars: Fans all over the stadium are holding up red stars. Akahoshi's name is literally "Red Star."
22:17: westbaystars: Wow! That was an exciting game. I really like this kind of close game where you don't know which way it'll go.
22:18: westbaystars: ---
22:18: westbaystars: Game Final
22:18: westbaystars: Giants 4 - 5 Tigers
22:19: westbaystars: ---
22:19: habs: alot better than last week
22:20: westbaystars: Yea, the blow out last week was over too soon, but then lasted too long.
22:20: westbaystars: This game took more time, but was so much more exciting.
22:21: habs: mhstevie put it on his radio station
22:21: westbaystars: I can only hope that you could feel half the excitement on your end.
22:22: westbaystars: The more that can hear about games like this, the better.
22:23: habs: It is exciting. You do a great job.
22:25: westbaystars: If that's it, I'll post the transcript.
22:25: habs: It is all so fun to learn your sayings and what the fans do
22:26: westbaystars: That's why it'd be great if ESPN or some other network would start showing these games.
22:26: westbaystars: You're getting a filtered version of the excitement.
22:28: westbaystars: Well, good morning, afternoon, night to you all.
Re: Pro Yakyu Game of the Week: 5/23
[ Author: Guest: Allen Bacon | Posted: May 24, 2004 12:49 AM
]
Michael,
Thanks again for the transcription of the game of May 23 between the Giants and the Tigers. I couldn't answer the 2 AM wake up call here in California to join you live, but I read your blow by blow account of the game when I woke up on Sunday morning. What an exciting game! And it looks like your BayStars did good on Sunday as well with the extra inning victory.
I hope I can join you live next time. Keep up the great work.
Allen Bacon
Fullerton, CA
Thanks again for the transcription of the game of May 23 between the Giants and the Tigers. I couldn't answer the 2 AM wake up call here in California to join you live, but I read your blow by blow account of the game when I woke up on Sunday morning. What an exciting game! And it looks like your BayStars did good on Sunday as well with the extra inning victory.
I hope I can join you live next time. Keep up the great work.
Allen Bacon
Fullerton, CA
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Some rights reserved.
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