April 29th Atchison v Ishikawa - Yano continues to fade

This game Tigers failed to apply themselves. Ishikawa was only average but Tigers batters swung and generally allowed him plenty of space. Admittedly they were helped by Yano's continuing failure as a catcher and by some indifferent pitching by Atchison. The problem is with Fukuhara out, Okada doesn't necessarily want to replace another pitcher so soon. Line scores

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

Starting line ups

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

Swallows

1. Aoki (Centre)
2. Kawashima (Third)
3. Tanaka (Centre)
4. Guiel (Right)
5. Riggs (First)
6. Miyamoto (Short)
7. Fukuchi (Left)
8. Fukukawa (Catcher)
9. Ishikawa (Pitcher)

Atchison continues to struggle. He didn't pitch well once again and what was interesting this time was how the standard of pitching went up once he retired. He started by walking Aoki who then stole second (Yano being in poor mode). Kawashima bunted Aoki to third and then Tanaka hit 1-0 Swallows. Tanaka is a very effective player at third. Guiel struck out and then Riggs grounded out to end the innings. Tigers first, Hirano hit and then Arai hit runners on first and second one out - a promising situation. Kanemoto struck out, it is time he got out of this mini-slump and started hitting again and Ford walked. Bases loaded two out. However, Toritani just pushed a hit too far end of innings and no score. The Swallows second was quiet, no score. In the Tigers second Atchison hit but nothing came of it. So to the Swallows third and the innings which really finished the contest.

Ishikawa struck out then Aoki reached first on a Hirano error. Kawashima hit and so we had runners on first and second with one out. Tanaka grounded out to advance the runners to second and third. Then Yano struck. He deflected a ball to his right allowing Aoki home 2-0 Swallows. Then he deflected a ball to his left to allow Kawashima home 3-0 Swallows. It really doesn't matter whether they were ruled pass balls or wild pitches, they were basically Yano mistakes. He also did this against the Giants and really Okada should be thinking about bringing his young catchers into play. The sooner these guys can learn the trade at the highest level, the better. Yano is hitting well but does need more back up. As for the innings, Guiel walked and Riggs flew out to end the innings. The Tigers third involved Arai reaching first on an error but once again Kanemoto did nothing. In the Swallows fourth Fukuchi hit and then stole second. Sorry but all respect to Fukuchi, this should not have happened - whilst I may be doubtful about Noguchi at least his throwing is good. Yano's throwing is also deteriorating. Next batter Fukukawa put a two base hit over Kanemoto 4-0 Swallows. Ishikawa hit to put runners on first and third but Aoki flew out and Kawashima grounded out to end the innings.

Tigers fourth was quiet and in the fifth the leadoff batter for the Swallows, Tanaka hit. Guiel then launched a deep fly but this was taken by Ford. He threw to Hirano who threw to Arai and Tanaka was also out. What Tanaka was thinking is difficult to fathom. He wasted a chance in a rather stupid way. The final batter of the innings, Riggs, struck out. Tigers fifth started with Imaoka as a pinch hitter who did nothing. Why use him when you don't have runners on. Imaoka would go to third and Sekimoto would go to second - sorry this is not sensible. Imaoka didn't hit and once again was a waste of a bat. Next Tigers pitcher was Abe, suddenly as I mentioned pitching quality was up. He retired the Swallows in order. In the Tigers sixth there was a quite absurd strike out with Arai swinging at a ball so far outside that you began to understand why pitchers don't always pitch to the zone. The Swallows seventh was also pitched by Abe and once again he retired the batters in order.

In the Tigers seventh, Ishikawa ran into trouble. Toritani hit. Then Yano hit (whatever his catching he is hitting well). Runners on first and third with no outs. Next batter Sekimoto. Unfortunately, a double play. 4-1 Swallows as Toritani made home. Imaoka grounded out to second to end the innings. So to Egusa who managed to walk Tanaka but retired the next three batters to close the innings. The Tigers eighth was likewise quiet. Watanabe closed the ninth with no problems and so to Lim. He gave up a hit to Toritani but escaped with no damage. Swallows victory.

Ishikawa earned his fifth victory but really has very little to offer. He was lucky in that Tigers batters swung too many times at pitches which should have been left. Atchison was poor but the big issue for Tigers is Yano's performance. He does need to up things a level or two or to be replaced.