May 8th Vogelsong v Togano - Giants salvage some pride

A game which saw Kubota blow a victory and hand it to the Giants. Okada made the essential point - this is not something that should happen. Line scores

       1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R  H E
Tigers 0 0 1 0 4 0 0 0 0 5 11 0
Giants 0 0 2 0 0 2 0 2 X 6 12 0

Starting lineups

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

Giants
1. Kamei (Right)
2. Sakamoto (Short)
3. Ogasawara (First)
4. Ramirez (Left)
5. Abe (Catcher)
6. Gonzalez (Second)
7. Shimizu (Centre)
8. Wakiya (Third)
9. Togano (Pitcher)

Akahoshi started with a hit but then Hirano hit into a double play. Arai was next and hit a two base but Kanemoto grounded out to end the innings. It was here that it was revealed that Katsuragi would actually be the Tigers right field (as if this ploy fooled anyone). The Giants first saw an Ogasawara hit but nothing came of this either. So to the Tigers second and nothing happened - the side was retired in order. Likewise the Giants second. By the third the Tigers had worked themselves back up to the first batter Akahoshi. He hit a two base to left. This was followed by a Hirano two base which cleared centre 1-0 Tigers. Arai and Kanemoto walked tp load the bases but Katsuragi couldn't convert them and the innings ended. Giants response was immediate - Wakiya hit a two base and then Inzen (pinch hitting for Togano who Hara had decided to replace) hit a pitch to left to drive in Wakiya 1-1 scores level. Inzen tried to go for second but was thrown out. Next batter Kamei had a two base and then Sakamoto hit - runners on first and third with one out. Ogaswara hit - Kamei was home 2-1 Giants - not a good innings by Vogelsong. Next batter was Ramirez who grounded into a double play to end the innings. Having dispensed with Togano, Hara went to Ochi. He gave up a hit to Toritani who was bunted to second by Noguchi. A ground out later Toritani was on third but Vogelsong flew out to end the chance.

The Giants fourth was quiet but Ochi rapidly got into trouble in the Tigers fifth. Hirano hit and then Arai and Kanemoto walked to load the bases with one out. At this point Hara decided he would be better off with Fujita - wrong choice. At first it looked OK as he struck out Katsuragi but then Toritani put a pitch between second and first 3-2 Tigers. Next batter Noguchi who hit a ball to right for a two base hit. Toritani went from first to home and the score was 5-2 Tigers. Sekimoto flew out though and the innings ended. Vogelsong's fifth was secure and held the lead intact and amazingly he managed a hit in the sixth. Akahoshi bunted him to second and then Arai hit to set up runners on first and third with two outs. Kanemoto hit to centre but it was a fly ball - end of innings. The Giants sixth started badly - Sakamoto hit, Ogasawara grounded out but Ramirez hit - runners on first and second with one out. Okada decided to move to Egusa.

He faced Abe and got him to fly out to Noguchi but also released a wild pitch which moved the runners to second and third. Next was Gonzalez - either he is very lucky or his skill level is quite impressive. He hit - a rather weak affair which just managed to evade Toritani's glove - of course Ogasawara was home but Ramirez was also home 5-4 Tigers. Shimizu grounded out and the innings ended. By now Hara had reached Yamaguchi in his list of pitchers and he retired the Tigers in order. Okada went with Watanabe for the Giants seventh and he gave up a hit to Wakiya. Kajimae (pinch hitter) tried to bunt but struck out with three failed attempts. The next two batters Kamei and Sakamoto flew out. The Tigers eighth saw an Akahoshi hit and his 12th steal of the season but Arai couldn't convert him.

The Giants eighth of course was pitched by Kubota - bread and butter to him or so you would have thought. Kubota has deteriorated significantly since last year and in another thread I list the runs he has given up so far (this thread will be updated constantly). Of course Okada has to use him but it is risky. He faced Ogasawara who hammered a two base hit and next was Ramirez. Kubota has blown ties against the Giants before but these have been one offs. This mistake was a culmination of a series of errors. Ramirez hit a long 2 run home run to centre 6-5 Giants. Kubota got out of the innings without giving up more runs but the damage had been done. The final innings was pitched by Kroon. He was burning to avenge his earlier humiliation when he allowed a walk in victory and this innings was good. He retired the Tigers in order Giants victory.

Okada was angry with Kubota and with good reason. Kubota has not been pitching well and needs to tighten up considerably. It could be that he no longer has it in him but I do not consider this likely. Tigers had taken the series and the Giants had escaped with a victory.