Black Star Home Opener

The Yokohama BayStars had their home opener yesterday (March 30) against the Giants at Yokohama Stadium. While former Lotte pitcher Shimiu calked up a Quality Start (3 runs over 8 innings), it's yet another Black Star in the loss column for Yokohama.

As if to announce that he's truly now a BayStar, Shimizu allowed a huge home run to Abe, coming less than a meter from clearing the stadium in right-center. (Is our team slogan "Ippatsu-byo - Catch It!"?) Nonetheless, it was yet another solo shot, so the damage could have been worse.

On offense, the BayStars were fairly quiet through the first six innings against southpaw Fujii. 3 hits (1 a double) scattered over the first six innings really didn't amount to much of a threat, even with a pair of walks sprinkled in. But the BayStars' Lucky Seven brought the stands to life! Sledge led off with a single to right. Yoshimura followed with a walk. Then Castillo connected with a line drive into the Giants' oendan that looked like it was still rising when it hit. The BayStars have managed to turn the game around 1-3 after seven.

But that lead didn't hold for very long. Despite Shimizu shutting down the Giants in order in both the sixth and seventh, the eighth proved to be his undoing. Sakamoto led off with a single to right, and was brought around to third on a double to left by Matsumoto. Shimizu got the next three Giants in a row, but Sakamoto scored on the ground out to second by Ogasawara, then Matsumoto scored on a sacrifice fly to center by Ramirez. A good throw home by Kinjoh would have had him. But "would haves" didn't prevent the game from being tied up 3-3.

Closer Yamaguchi came in to throw the ninth for the BayStars. Here is where the reduction of walks (and hit batsmen) really needs to be addressed. Shimizu went eight innings without allowing either. Yamaguchi walked one and hit one, loading the bases with one out after allowing a lead-off single to Edgar and striking out Abe. Sakamoto lifted a mid/shallow fly ball to left, and with Sledge's throw home a little off line, pinch runner Suzuki scored the go ahead run. Giants up 4-3. Yamaguchi then got Matsumoto looking at strike three to get out of the inning without any more damage. But the damage was done.

Against former BayStar god of closers Kroon, Yokohama got a two-out rally going. Hashimoto drew a two-out walk. Pinch runner Nonaka swiped second, then moved over to third on a single by pinch hitter Shimozono. But a second come back was not in the stars for us, and Uchikawa grounded out to short to end the game.

The BayStars did a great job with the heart of the Giants order, much like they did with Hanshin. Numbers 3, 4, and 5 Giants combined for an 0 for 11 (.000) hitting performance. Of course, Ogasawara and Ramirez both had RBIs, on a ground out and sacrifice fly respectively. But Sakamoto and Matsumoto combined to go 5 for 8 (.625) at the top of the order. We must keep them off the base paths.

The only inning the BayStar offense was able to put two hits together was the one they scored 3 runs in. Teamwork! Why can't more than one batter hit in the same inning? This is getting frustrating.

And finally, two sacrifice flies scored runs for the Giants. I don't expect a laser beam home. But the throws we got were way off line. I know the Giants have unusual speed this year, but a throw to the general area would allow Hashimoto to at least block the plate. These throws were so far away from home that even Kiyohara could have scored. Was spring training too short?