September 7th Kanemura v Maeda - Okada blows it

Tigers victory the day before was a flash in the pan. Poor play and particularly poor management doomed the Tigers in this game. Kanemura gave ample proof that he was finished in the fifth innings yet he was brought back for a sixth innings. Okada's trying to stretch another innings out of Kanemura was the height of folly. The Magic Number is switched off again because the Giants game was rained off (Games between are now four) but really Tigers do not need this sort of error on top of the poor play they have been showing recently. Line scores

       1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R  H E
Tigers 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 2  5 1
Carp   0 0 0 0 2 3 0 0 X 5 13 1

Starting lineups

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

Carp
1. Higashide (Second)
2. Amaya (Centre)
3. Alex (Right)
4. Kurihara (First)
5. Shima (Left)
6. Ishihara (Catcher)
7. Soyogi (Short)
8. Kokubo (Third)
9. Maeda (Pitcher)

Tigers didn't do well against Maeda at Kyocera Dome and once again weren't too successful. The first innings was quiet with no one making base but batters far too keen to try and hit fly balls. Kanemura started by giving up a hit to Higashide. He made second on the obligatory bunt (by Amaya) but nothing came of this. Tigers second was also quiet but once again - too many flyballs (two out of three). Carp's second saw Ishihara walk but he was caught up in a double play and the innings was over. The Tigers third saw Katsuragi lead off with a two base hit but second was where he stayed as the other batters quickly got out. Carp's third saw Kokubo lead off for a walk. Maeda tried to bunt and then set off for first. It is a measure of Tigers complacent and slow fielding that he made it - runners on first and second with no outs. Higashide, though, messed up his three bunt attempts and was out. The next two batters were also out and that chance was wasted.

Maeda started the Tigers fourth well - he got the first two outs but then Kanemoto hit. Toritani followed this with a hit and Tigers had runners on first and second. Sekimoto though grounded to short and that chance went begging. Kanemura was perhaps showing signs that he wasn't able to cope even in the fourth. He dead balled Kurihara. Then Shima hit to set up runners on first and second. This became second and third when Ishihara bunted. Soyogi lined out and Kokubo was walked to load the bases and get at Maeda. He flew out and the innings was over. Tigers fifth was quiet with the runners being retired in order. With Carp's fifth Higashide led off with a hit. He was bunted to second and then Alex hit (a rather lucky swing) but Higashide was home 1-0 Carp. Kurihara struck out but a wild pitch took Alex to second. Shima hit and beat the throw to first - runners on first and third and then Ishihara hit 2-0 Carp. The final batter, Soyogi grounded out and the innings was over.

Now Maeda had to hold the lead and he didn't start well. Akahoshi hit then Hirano walked. Lin grounded out to first but an error allowed him to reach base safely and the bases were loaded with no outs. Tigers then proceeded to blow the chance. Kanemoto grounded out on his third pitch 2-1 Carp. It did drive a run in but he should have done more. Toritani lined out to second - a totally irresponsible shot and finally Sekimoto swung at his first pitch and flew out with the runners on first and third. What a waste - the batters should have waited and made Maeda make mistakes. Instead they had let him off the hook when they should have at least drawn level. Whilst Okada wasn't responsible for the sixth innings mess he was responsible for what followed. He brought back Kanemura to squeeze another innings from him. Kanemura hadn't improved and with one out gave up a hit to Maeda. This should not have happened and he should have been replaced at this point. Okada often ingnores these warnings and so it proved in this game. Kanemure then gave up hits to Higashide and Amaya to load the bases. Alex grounded out but a runner was home 3-1 Carp. It was only now that Okada acted and Watanabe was brought on. He immediatley gave up a two base hit to Kurihara (Egusa would have been a better choice here) 5-1 Carp. Watanabe then walked Shima but finally Ishihara grounded out to end the innings.

Maeda returned for the seventh and with two outs gave up a home run to Takahashi (pinch hitter) 5-2 Carp. He got the final out though. Once again he had been given an easy ride by Tigers batters far too keen to try and hit him out of the ground rather than waiting and picking their moments. Egusa pitched the Carp's seventh and whilst he didn't give up any runs it would have been better if Watanabe had taken this innings. Egusa gave up a hit to Soyogi who was bunted to second. He then walked Higashide but got the final out to end the innings. Ueno pitched the Tigers eighth and gave up nothing, once again Tigers batters were too keen to hit and got nowhere. Alex led off the Carp's eighth with a hit and was joined on base one out later by Amaya. Nohmi though was able to get the next two outs without a runner getting to third and the innings was over. Nagakawa gave up a walk in the Tigers ninth but retired the rest of the batters and the game was over Carp victory.

Tigers had messed up the game and adopted an over aggressive game plan which had not served them well. Too many batter had gone for hits which weren't there and had paid the price. Wanting to attack the opposition is all very well but making the opposition work is also important. Tigers hadn't done this. Of course this wouldn't have been so important without Kanemura's sixth. Okada should have shown more sense here and heeded the warnings. Once he pulled Kanemura he should have gone with Egusa. Poor management lost this game.