July 4th Shimoyanagi v Kobayashi - BayStars are crushed.

An absolutely abysmal performance by the BayStars saw Tigers cruise to a comfortable victory at Hamasta. Totally outclassed on the day the BayStars were really only there to provide batting practice for the Tigers. They would improve in the later matches but this one was embarrassing for them. Line scores

         1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R  H E
Tigers   0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 5 7 16 0
BayStars 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0  4 0

Starting lineups

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

BayStars

1. Ohnishi (Left)
2. Nishi (Second)
3. Uchikawa (First)
4. Murata (Third)
5. Kinjoh (Centre)
6. Yoshimura (Right)
7. Ishii (Short)
8. Aikawa (Catcher)
9. Kobayashi (Pitcher)

Kobayashi started with an Akahoshi hit. This led to a Sekimoto bunt and Akahoshi was on second. Akahoshi advanced to third on an Arai ground out and then Kanemoto walked. Lin though struck out and the BayStars escaped from this innings. In the BayStars first Shimoyanagi walked Uchikawa but then got Murata to fly out and no score resulted. The leadoff for the Tigers second, Toritani, hit. This was followed by a Fujimoto hit and Tiger had runners on first and third once again but with one out. The next two batters couldn't convert the runners and the score remained the same. The BayStars second was their best innings and the only chance they really had. Kinjoh and the Yoshimura hit. Kinjoh advanced to third on a fly out but the final batter was Kobayashi who grounded out and the innings was over. In the Tigers third Arai walked but nothing came of this. BayStars third was quiet with the side being retired in order. Tigers fourth saw the first score. Toritani had flown out and this brought Yano to the plate. He took his second pitch deep for a home run to left centre 1-0 Tigers. Kobayashi then dead balled Fujimoto. Shimoyanagi bunted him to second and Akahoshi walked - runners on first and second. Sekimoto grounded out and the BayStars escaped further damage.

BayStars fourth saw Kinjoh walk and advance to second on an unusual Shimoyanagi wild pitch. However, the other batters did nothing and second was where he stayed. With Tigers fifth Arai walked and then Kanemoto hit. An out later Toritani's timely hit drove Arai home 2-0 Tigers. Kobayashi was replaced by Yamakita who got the final out. BayStars couldn't mount any response in their fifth and were retired in order. Sanada pitched the Tigers sixth and also retired the side in order. In the BayStars sixth Uchikawa walked but nothing resulted from this. Tigers seventh was quite exciting - Kanemoto hit. Then Lin walked. A Yano hit loaded the bases with two outs but Takahashi (pinch hitter) struck out and the BayStars escaped again. Shimoyanagi pitched the BayStars seventh and had no problems retiring them in order.

Tigers eighth and Sekimoto had one of his two base hits. However, there were already two outs and so when Arai struck out no score resulted. Watanabe took the BayStars eighth. Shimoyanagi had pitched well and economically (93 pitches). He had walked three though and given up two hits. Crucially he had given up no runs. Watanabe started with a Saeki two base hit. The next batter Ohnishi grounded out to Toritani and then Nishi walked. Watanabe then induced a Uchikawa fly out and a Murata ground out to end the innings. Tigers had been in control of the game throughout and they would finish the BayStars in their ninth. White was the first victim - Kanemoto hit a two base then Lin hit and Kanemoto was home 3-0 Tigers. Toritani walked, exit White to be replaced by Oyamada. He gave up a hit to Yano 4-0 Tigers - runners on first and third, no outs. Baldris (replacement third) grounded out moving the runners to second and third. Then Hiyama (pinch hitter) drove in a 2 run timely hit 6-0 Tigers. Akahoshi hit followed by Sekimoto and the bases were loaded still with one out. Arai hit a sacrifice fly 7-0 Tigers. Finally Kanemoto flew out to end the innings but the Tigers had added five. Egusa took the BayStars ninth innings and the first two batters fell to ground outs. Nonaka (pinch hitter) hit but the final batter Aikawa also grounded out. Tigers victory.

The fourth victory in a row the Tigers had simply proved too strong for the BayStars. Shimoyanagi picked up the victory and had pitched economically despite walking three. His rediscovered ability to pitch deep into a game without taking too many pitches has been a key element of Tigers success.