May 23rd Andoh v Ohtonari - Softbank's lucky innings.

This game did not show Andoh at his best. Possibly he was still feeling the after-effects of his over-pitching against the Swallows as he suddenly faded. He lacked the control of his inside pitches that he had shown in the previous game. Ohtonari is also a candidate for one of Michael's lists as he did throw a lot of pitches. He shouldn't have been pitching the eighth but had enough to win a well earned victory. Line scores

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

Starting lineups

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

Starting pitcher was Andoh

Hawks
1. Honda (Second)
2. Kawasaki (Short)
3. Matsunaka (DH)
4. Kokubo (First)
5. Shibahara (Right)
6. Matsuda (Third)
7. Hasegawa (Centre)
8. Kosai (Left)
9. Yamazaki (Catcher)

Starting pitcher was Ohtonari

Tigers were all over Ohtonari in the first innings. Akahoshi hit and advanced to second on a Hirano ground out. Arai walked and then Kanemoto hit a two base driving in two runs 2-0 Tigers. Ford (who even though he is improved needs to do better with runners on base) struck out and Toritani flew out to strand Kanemoto on second. In the Hawks first Kawasaki hit but nothing came of this. The Tigers second was likewise quiet with Yano collecting the first of his three strike outs. He would not have a good game at the plate. Andoh had no trouble with the Hawks lineup until he reached Hasegawa. The number seven got ahead of the count and then launched a solo home run 2-1 Tigers. Next batter Kosai hit but Yamazaki grounded out to end the innings.

So to the Tigers third where we saw Oh's dark side. He allows his pitchers to throw at batters heads and this is what Ohtonari did with his first pitch to Akahoshi. Akahoshi evaded this but eventually grounded out. Hirano struck out and then Arai came up. He played around and then hit towards left. Kosai went to take but misjudged and the ball flew over his glove for a three base hit. Kanemoto was walked probably deliberately and Ohtonari faced Ford. Once again an intimidatory pitch thrown inside at Ford's body. Ford avoided this and really it wasn't necessary because the strike out ball was sublime and had Ford completely fooled. Kanemoto on first and Arai on second were both stranded. Andoh's third also showed some fine pitching. He struck out Kokubo with a stunning example of getting the batter to swing a bit too far.

Both teams fourth and fifth were quiet with both pitchers retiring in order. Ohtonari was in fine form and did very well. Andoh also was comfortable. The Tigers sixth saw a Ford hit but nothing came of it. The Hawks sixth was different. Andoh faced Kawasaki who took two strikes but then managed to get hold of a ball and deflect it to left where it went between third and short for a hit. Next batter Matsunaka who managed to get the bottom part of his bat on a pitch. This bounced high and by the time it came down Matsunaka was safe - runners on first and second with no outs. Matsunaka used to be a bit of a carthorse but this game was very quick. Kokubo was next, he swung and connected. The ball landed just inside the third baseline for a hit - lucky as these type of hits often go out. 2-2 Scores level and runners on second and third. Andoh then walked Shibahara to load the bases with no outs. Next batter - Matsuda, he swung at the first pitch he faced. This hit the ground in front of the plate, bounced and flew over third to land just inside the third baseline for a very lucky hit 4-2 Hawks - runners on second and third with no outs.

At this point, Okada decided to replace Andoh with Egusa. If Andoh had been unlucky, Egusa was indifferent. He got the first out, unfortunately a sacrifice fly to centre, 5-2 Hawks. He then walked Tsuji (pinch hitter) to set up runners on first and second with one out. The second out came with a fly out to right from Yamazaki but the next batter Honda hit to drive in a run 6-2 Hawks. Finally, Egusa got Kawasaki to fly out and end the innings. Ohtonari continued with the seventh and successfully got the Tigers out in order. For the Hawks seventh, Okada decided to use Taiyo. He was not impressive either. He gave up a hit to Matsunaka and then one to Kokubo. Once again Matsunaka demonstrated a fleetness of foot, going from first to third. Runners on first and third with no outs. The next batter, Shibahara, grounded out but this enabled Matsunaka to make home 7-2 Hawks. Taiyo pulled himself together and got the final two outs.

The surprise of the eighth was that Oh again brought Ohtonari back to pitch. His count was already high so it is difficult to understand the decision. Ohtonari started by giving up a hit to Akahoshi. This was cancelled out by a Hirano double play. Next was Arai who hit his second two base of the night. Then Kanemoto walked. Oh got the message and switched Ohtonari for Ogura. He got the final out and Softbank's lead was preserved. Taiyo continued with the Hawks eighth and got the first two outs but then gave up two successive hits to Honda and Kawasaki. Luckily he got the final out. Ogura also pitched the Tigers ninth and retired the side in order - Hawks victory.

A fine pitching performance by Ohtonari had ensured victory. Andoh to some extent had been unlucky but the Hawks had taken advantage of their luck very nicely. Imaoka was a failure as a DH and one can really only contemplate a pinch hitter role for him at the moment. Ford needs to hit with runners on base more frequently