Long Ball Favors Yokohama

The second game of the Yokohama opening series against the Yomiuri Giants saw the tables turn and the BayStars capitalize on the long ball to even up the series at 1 apiece.

Things didn't look so good from the start. Yokohama's starter Yoshimi allowed the Giants to score 4 runs on 4 hits (and a walk) in the first inning of the Wednesday night game. Obana-kantoku wasted no time in pulling Yoshimi in the top of the second with a runner on and one out as the Giants were heading back to the top of their order in Sakamoto. Kaga came in for long relief, a role I was anxious to see him in. Kaga then shut down the next 6 Giants he faced in order, carrying the team into the 5th where Kaga's stamina started to give out allowing an unearned run on just 1 hit, and error, and a past ball.

While Kaga works on his stamina, the BayStars' offense came to within a run in the second and third innings. The bottom of the second inning saw Murata hit a huge solo home run to left to get on the board. Back to back base hits in the third led to a pair of runs as Giant starter Nishimura went through a spell where he couldn't find the strike zone. At the end of three complete, the BayStars only trailed 4-3.

But as I said, Kaga was struggling come the fifth inning. Matsumoto singled to start it off, then Ogasawara hit a short line drive to Castillo at second who was unable to make the play, it being ruled an error. While Kaga got Ramirez on strikes, Kamei hit a sacrifice fly to left to add an insurance run before a walk and ground out ended the inning trailing 5-3.

The BayStars then started to mount a comeback. Castillo doubled to lead off the bottom of the sixth and came in one out later on pinch hitter Naitoh's single to right. Castillo then hit his second home run of the season, a solo shot, to right field with an out in the bottom of the eighth inning to tie the ballgame up at 5-5.

Then came the ninth. Ushida managed to hold the Giants at bay for 1 1/3rd innings. The big worry was when Abe was at bat in the top of the ninth with Chono on first after receiving a walk. Chono stole second on the second pitch, so Obana-kantoku called for a pitch out to Abe. The first one, like that fateful one to Johjima in the last series, saw Hashimoto squatting and calling an outside pitch. Well, Ushida actually kept the ball out of reach of Abe on the third pitch before Hashimoto stood up for ball four. The intentional pass paid off as pinch hitter Lee grounded out to second to end the threat.

With two down and Hayakawa on first, Murata got an intentional walk so that Tsuchimoto could face Sledge instead. Boy, would the Giants regret that. Sledge connected with a high fastball, and there was no doubt about it from the time the ball left the bat. Sledge brought the BayStars a dramatic sayonara three run home run to defeat the Giants 8-5.

Credit to the bullpen for holding the Giants after such a bad start. Kaga got in 3 2/3rds innings of work, the longest outing of the year (including pre-season) for someone who could be (if it's not too early) a serious Rookie of the Year candidate. Kizuka and Takamiya combined for a scoreless sixth inning, Takamiya not allowing the two runners he inherited to score. Former Giant Sanada struck out 4 of the 8 Giants he faced, giving way to Ushida after loading the bases in the eighth. And Ushida handled himself well to get the win.

But what was perhaps most amazing about this evening was that the BayStars hit 3 home runs while allowing zero! Yes!

We're sitting just one game under .500. This isn't such a bad start.