April 8th Atchison v Nakata - Kyuji almost blows it.

The first game of the season at Koshien and the first against the Dragons. Kanemoto is still on 1999 hits and still on 397 home runs. Line scores are

 
        1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Dragons 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 2 7 1
Tigers  0 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 X 3 5 0

Starting line ups
1. Akahoshi (Centre)
2. Hirano (Second)
3. Arai (First)
4. Kanemoto (Left)
5. Imaoka (Third)
6. Toritani (Short)
7. Ford (Right)
8. Yano (Catcher)
9. Pitcher (Atchison)

Dragons
1. Araki (Second)
2. Ibata (Short)
3. Lee (Right)
4. Woods (First)
5. Wada (Left)
6. Nakamura (Third)
7. Morino (Centre)
8. Tanishige (Catcher)
9. Nakata (Pitcher)

Atchison started well striking out Araki and Lee in the first. Nakata didn't start well and in fact had a mediocre game of which a surprising feature was that he didn't give up more runs. His control was sadly lacking. In the first he walked Arai but Kanemoto hit a left fly to end the innings. Atchison who generally handled the top of the Dragons lineup very nicely had trouble with the lower reaches. In the second Nakamura hit and then Morino hit which left runners on first and third with two outs. However, Tanishige flew out to Ford who was rock solid in right field. In the Tigers second Woods misfielded a Toritani grounder and the Tigers short stop was able to make first safely. Ford flew out but Yano hit and Tigers had runners on first and third with two outs. Last up was Atchison but he proved difficult to get and battled Nakata for a long time before striking out.

Having worked his way to the top of the Dragons order Atchison had no problems dispatching them in order in the third. Nakata though faced his first crisis. Akahoshi hit, Hirano struck out (he would have a dreadful game against Nakata) and then Nakata walked both Arai and Kanemoto - bases loaded one out. Next was Imaoka and one expected him to launch a deep fly. However, he tried to stroke the ball through the field and hit into a double play. The end of the innings and first chance wasted. In the fourth Lee hit but Wada hit into a double play after Woods had struck out to Atchison in three straight balls. The bottom of the fourth and Nakata walked Toritani and Ford. Runners on first and second with no outs. Yano grounded into a double play - the ball bobbling out of Ibata's hands but landing conveniently in front of him in time for him to make the play. Toritani made third and then Atchison had another marathon battle with Nakata before finally striking out.

Atchison then ran into trouble against the Dragons lower order again. This time Morino hit and then Tanishige hammered a long two base to left. Kanemoto had difficulty fielding it. In fact his fielding in this game was poor but this seems to be the case when he has a record in sight. Morino was able to fly round the bases and home 1-0 Dragons. Nakata bunted Tanishige to third but Araki grounded out to third. Nakata's sixth was surprising - he retired the side in order as did Atchison for his sixth and seventh. In the sixth Atchison took a magnificent catch - Woods hit the ball just to his left and he was able to snag and hold onto the ball. Woods shook his head in disbelief. So to the Tigers seventh which Nakata started by giving up a hit to Yano. Sekimoto (pinch hitting for Atchison) bunted him to second. Akahoshi walked and the situation was runners on first and second with no outs. Hiyama was summoned as a pinch hitter for Hirano. He smashed a 1-3 ball to right and Yano hurried home 1-1 scores level. Saka pinch ran for Hiyama and next was Arai. He worked the count full before coldly putting a hit over Ibata into the left field 2-1 Tigers. Ochiai had had enough and Nakata was replaced by Kobayashi. Nakata hadn't pitched well and had battled his control all evening. He had taken 143 pitches for his six and a third innings and issued 7 walks. Kobayashi faced Kanemoto - would he get his 2000th hit? Sadly not, he tried to push the ball past third but Nakamura was able to get to it and off load to second and Arai was out. Kanemoto was safe on first and Saka was home 3-1 Tigers. Nakazato was next and he got Imaoka to strike out.

Given a 3-1 lead it was not surprising who would pitch next and Kubota took the mound. Tanishige the first batter hit a deep fly to Ford. Kubota didn't even bother to look as he knew it was out. He then struck out the Dragons pinch hitter Tatsunami and then flummoxed Araki with a low fastball to strike him out as well. The Dragons pitcher Hirai had no problems in the Tigers eighth either and so to the ninth and Fujikawa. He started poorly and gave up a hit to Ibata . Lee was next and he struck out. Then Woods and here Fujikawa came unstuck. He got two quick strikes and then tried to get Woods out swinging. Woods wasn't biting and from 2-0 Fujikawa went to 2-3. The last ball Woods half swung and checked himself in time and walked. Runners on first and second with one out. Fujikawa had been wary of throwing strikes in the zone and it had cost him. Next was Wada and Fujikawa allowed a two base hit to him 3-2 Tigers. Kanemoto slipped and couldn't make the throw allowing Woods to advance to third and Wada to second. A mound conference followed and Nakamura was walked to load the bases with one out. Fujikawa had to strike out the next batter Morino or get a double play. He went for the strike out and using forkballs got Morino swinging in three. The final batter - Tanishige - launched a high fly to right but Ford was under it and caught it safely. Game over - Tigers victory.

Perhaps closer than it should have been as Tigers should have taken more advantage of Nakata's problems. However, it shows what a tough outfit Dragons are. Atchison had an excellent game and showed himself very accomplished. Ford was solid and Arai clinical when needed. Fujikawa stayed cool enough to get himself out of the jam and earn his sixth save. Scheduled pitchers for today are Shimoyanagi and Chen

[Edited by: Christopher on Apr 14, 2008 7:23 PM]