April 10th Andoh v Utsumi - Errors cost the Tigers

The first game of the season at Tokyo Dome in front of the usual huge crowd of rabid Tigers and Giants supporters. This turned out to be another excellent game in which errors played a significant part. Kanemoto had his second three home run game of the season and seemed to be superhuman in his ability to spot which pitch to put into the stands. Question marks continue about Mench, he isn't hitting and his fielding isn't of the required standard either. Box scores

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

Starting lineups

Tigers
1. Akahoshi (Centre)
2. Hirano (Second)
3. Toritani (Short)
4. Kanemoto (Left)
5. Arai (Third)
6. Sekimoto (First)
7. Mench (Right)
8. Kanoh (Catcher)
9. Andoh (Pitcher)

Giants
1. Suzuki (Centre)
2. Wakiya (Second)
3. Ogasawara (Third)
4. Ramirez (Left)
5. Kamei (Right)
6. Lee (First)
7. Sakamoto (Short)
8. Tsuruoka (Catcher)
9. Utsumi (Pitcher)

Tigers first opened with Utsumi walking Hirano. This brought up Kanemoto but he grounded out and the Giants had the three outs they needed. Giants first saw the batters fall in order. Arai led off for the Tigers second and hit nicely into centre. One out later, Mench walked and Tigers had runners on first and second. This became runners on first and third with a Kanoh ground out, Mench being thrown out going for second but with Andoh next Tigers were never likely to score. To give Andoh credit he did try but only drove the ball to second for the ground out. In Giants second Kamei walked and with two outs tried to steal second. Kanoh's throw was good and he was tagged out by Toritani to end the innings. Kanoh had a fine game and once again showed awareness and great intelligence in his calls. So to the third and Kanemoto's first home run. Hirano started it with a hit. Toritani was next and drove the ball between first and second but Lee was aware to that and threw the ball to second to get Hirano. However, he was well off his base and there was no one backing up leaving first uncovered. This meant that Toritani was safe and Kanemoto was next. He took a strike and a ball before seizing on Utsumi's third pitch and driving it into the right stand for a 2 run home run 2-0 Tigers. Arai was next up but he struck out and the innings ended with a nice lead to the Tigers. This was halved the next innings with an error by Sekimoto. With one out Andoh gave up a two base hit to Tsuruoka who is not nice looking. In fact he fits in well with the BayStars (he is ex-BayStars) tradition of having ugly players and is an ideal companion for Abe (who is also nothing to write home about in the appearance stakes). Tsuruoka looks a bit like a conehead with hair. However, he had a fine game with the bat and behind the plate. With Tsuruoka on second and two outs Tigers were looking secure. This impression remained as Suzuki hit a weak grounder to Sekimoto at first. Here, things went wrong, Sekimoto fluffed the take and then threw poorly to Andoh who was backing up. The ball went behind Andoh and gave Tsuruoka plenty of time to make home 2-1 Tigers runner on first and a significant error. Andoh would not have gotten the tag in time even if the throw had been good but the runners would have been locked on first and third with no run scored. Next up Wakiya but he didn't finish his at bat as Suzuki tried to steal second but was thrown out by Kanoh. End of innings.

Tigers fourth saw Kanoh hit but nothing came of this and Giants fourth was quiet. This continued into the Tigers fifth with the batters falling in order. Here Andoh made a mess of things. With one out he faced Lee. Kanoh called for a low pitch but Andoh for reasons best known to himself decided to put it high in the perfect postion for a home run. It just drifted foul and Andoh had had a lucky escape and a warning. Lee then produced a centre hit which was followed by a hit from Sakamoto to put runners on first and second with one out. Next batter, Tsuruoka. Once again Kanoh called for a low pitch, once again Andoh delivered up a home run pitch in the perfect postion. Tsuruoka didn't make any mistake and with a smooth swing slammed the ball into the left stand - home run 4-2 Giants and the game turned round. The next two batters fell easily but Giants were now in the driving seat. However, they would still have to battle for the victory. Utsumi faced Kanemoto leading off Tigers sixth. Once again Kanemoto selected his pitch and drove the ball into the right stand for a solo home run 4-3 Giants. Utsumi then faced Arai and was hit on the leg by a fierce ground drive from the Tigers third base. Arai was safe but Utsumi had to limp off injured and was replaced by Ochi. Sekimoto bunted Arai to second but Mench flew out. Kanoh was next and he bounced one over third into left field where Ramirez lumbered towards the ball. Arai rounded third as the throw came in but it was a poor throw and Arai was home 4-4 scores tied runner on second. Katsuragi (pinch hitter) was next but he grounded out and the innings was over. Giants, though, snatched back the lead immediatley, once again through an error. Egusa was the pitcher and he walked Ogasawara with one out. Ramirez flew out which brought up Kamei. He slammed his second pitch along the first baseline into the corner for a two base hit. Mench moved round and picked up the ball then fumbled and dropped it. Ogasawara had set off round the bases and even though he was running out of steam he still had enough to make home 5-6 Giants runner on third. The pitch had been poor but Mench's handling error had allowed the run to be scored as Ogasawara wouldn't have beaten the throw otherwise. The final batter was Lee who struck out to fine piece of pitching.

Tigers seventh was pitched by Yamaguchi who was in control and retired the batters in order. Giants seventh was taken by Watanabe. He faced Tsuruoka with one out and once again Kanoh called for a low pitch but Watanabe this time left it too high. Tsuruoka gratefully accepted the gift and despatched the ball into the left stand again for his second home run of the night, this time a solo 6-4 Giants. Kanoh's body language said it all - what do I have to do to get these idiots to follow instructions? Watanabe was rattled and gave up back to back hits to Suzuki and Kimura setting up runners on first and third with two outs. However, Ogasawara struck out and the innings was ended. Hara decided that as Yamaguchi had done so well in the seventh he could be trusted with the eighth. He faced Kanemoto who once again picked his pitch and slammed another home run - his third of the night 6-5 Giants. You could see Giants bench just stare in stunned disbelief. Yamaguchi was replaced by Michael Nakmura who gave up a hit to Sekimoto but didn't give up any runs and so the score stayed with a slim Giants lead. Giants eighth was pitched by Williams who unlike his previous outing was on form and retired the batters in order. Tigers ninth was Kroon who had no trouble picking up his first save striking out Akahoshi and then Hirano to end the game. Giants victory.

Poor pitching and errors had wasted a very good postion for the Tigers. Andoh's fifth had been too casual and fielding had not been up to standard. To be honest Mench does not look good enough for right field at the moment. His positioning is only average and he has messed up two important takes leading to runs being scored. Perhaps moving him to first and Sekimoto to second would be a good idea. Hirano could take right and this would certainly generate an improvement. Kanemoto now has 21 RBIs and 7 home runs and has started superbly. Kanoh is doing well behind the plate and showing considerable perception and understanding. His throwing was very good - taking out all the Giants runners trying to steal second. This was a close and exciting game but Tigers need to raise their fielding level to ensure victory in these sorts of games.