August 20th Kubo v Ichiba - It's a good thing he didn't join us

This was a massacre, Ichiba was totally unable to cope with the Tigers batters and was knocked out of the game in two innings. Kubo by contrast was assured and able to ride the Swallows counterattack well. He threw 136 pitches over eight innings and has really adjusted to Central League conditions well. Asai had a huge game, driving in four runs as Akahoshi was rested. Scores

          1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9  R  H E
Tigers    0 3 6 0 0 0 0 0 1 10 12 0
Swallows  0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0  2 11 3

Starting lineups

Tigers
1. Asai (Centre)
2. Hirano (Second)
3. Toritani (Short)
4. Kanemoto (Left)
5. Arai (Third)
6. Sakurai (Right)
7. Katsuragi (First)
8. Kanoh (Catcher)
9. Kubo (PItcher)

Swallows
1. Fukuchi (Left)
2. Kawabata (Short)
3. Aoki (Centre)
4. Hatakeyama (Third)
5. Guiel (Right)
6. Takeuchi (First)
7. Hiroyasu Tanaka (Second)
8. Kawamoto (Catcher)
9. Ichiba (PItcher)

Ichiba was the pitcher who caused so much trouble for the Tigers several years ago over pre signing payments and cost them their owner and president. So it was interesting to see him in action - he hasn't really fulfilled what was thought to be his potential and after a short time with Rakuten was traded to Swallows who also seem to be unable to bring out his ability. His first innings was nice and secure and he had the Tigers batters out in order. Kubo gave up a one out hit to Kawabata in Swallows first but nothing came of this. Tigers second was were Ichiba started to go to pieces but they did have the assistance of some dreadful fielding by Hatakeyama at first. Tigers second started with a walk to Kanemoto as Ichiba started to have problems with his control. Arai flew out but Sakurai walked. Katsuragi struck out swinging and then Kanoh hit a grounder to third. Hatakeyama messed the take up and the bases were loaded. Still Kubo was next and he should have been an easy out. He also hit a grounder to third and once again Hatakeyama made a mess of it and Kubo was safe on first but a run had also been scored 1-0 Tigers. This brought up Asai and he received a nice hitable pitch which he put comfortably into centre driving in two runs 3-0 Tigers runners on first and second. Hirano struck out but Tigers had a nice lead. Kubo needed to hold the lead and started well striking out Guiel to start the Swallows second. A ground out followed and Kubo then gave up a hit to Tanaka and this would be the pattern for the Swallows, hits scattered all over the place but not in the right place to drive in runs. The final out was Kawamoto who struck out to end the innings. Tigers third was devastating, Toritani led off with a solo home run to right 4-0 Tigers. Kanemoto followed with another solo home run to right 5-0 Tigers and here Takada should have replaced Ichiba. A 5-0 lead is bad but overhaulable with effort. What was to follow would put the game out of reach for the Swallows. Arai flew out just missing out on another home run and then Sakurai also flew out. Katsuragi walked and then Kanoh hammered one deep and Katsuragi sped round the bases for another run 6-0 Tigers runner on second. Kubo hit to third but the throw was poor and he was safe on first with Kanoh on fhird. Up stepped Asai who received a nice fat pitch which he dispatched into the left stand for a three run home run 9-0 Tigers and Swallows were in tatters. Hirano struck out to end the innings but Tigers had an unassalable lead. Swallows did need to respond rapidly and started well in their third. Yoneno (pinch hitting for Ichiba) led off with a left hit. Fukuchi followed with another left hit and then Kawabata singled to right to load the bases with no outs. Here things went wrong for Swallows - they needed their batters to continue hitting but Aoki flew out to centre. This drove in a run but it was only a run 9-1 Tigers, runners on first and third. Next up Hatakeyama who grounded out to third and once again the runner was home 9-2 Tigers runner on first but still not enough. Finally, Guiel flew out to Katsuragi and the counter-attack fizzled out. Swallows would not be in such a nice position again and Kubo had done well to contain them.

Ichiba was replaced by Matsui who would be much more controlled. He started Tigers fourth with a hit to Toritani but then got the next three batters comfortably. Tanaka had a one out hit in Swallows fourth but got no further than first as Kubo stayed calm and in control. Kanoh had his second two base hit in Tigers fifth but was caught off base as Kubo struck out looking and the innings was over. Fukuchi led off Swallows fifth and as Aoki struck out swinging stole second nicely. Once again Swallows inability to cope with Kubo's pitching intervened here. and the next two batters fell rapidly. Lee replaced Matsui and with one out gave up a hit to Hirano. However, he then struck out Toritani and Kanemoto in succession to end the innings. Nice work by the Swallows pitcher. Guiel led off Swallows sixth with a hit but then watched from first as the next three batters tumbled to Kubo and Kanoh who once again were working well together.

Lee was replaced for Tigers seventh by Takagi and he started with a centre hit to Arai. One out later, Katsuragi walked but Kanoh trying for his third two base of the night flew out. Arai tagged up and made third with Katsuragi on first. Kubo was next (he was going to pitch Swallows seventh) and he struck out looking to end the innings. Swallows seventh went the same way as most of the other innings - a hit, this time to Fukuchi followed by batters being unable to convert. Kubo though had thrown a lot and was getting tired - would he return for the eighth? It wasn't really needed. Hirano hit again in Tigers eighth but then Toritani hit into a double play and ended the innings. Kubo did return for the eighth and was tired. Noguchi (pinch hitter) grounded out but Guiel hammered out a two base, Swallows only extra base hit of the night. Takeuchi grounded out but then Kubo walked Tanaka and released a wild pitch which took the runners to second and third. Iihara (pinch hitter) was next but he lined out to Arai and the innings was over. Great work by Kubo who had had to work hard for that final innings and shouldn't have really been asked to pitch it. It would have been a better idea to give a relief pitcher a nice easy run out than push Kubo unnecessarily. The Swallows pitcher for Tigers ninth was Hagiwara who ran into trouble. He started by walking Kanemoto and then gave up a hit to Arai, runners on first and second. A wild pitch took the runners to second and third and then Sakurai hit a fly to right. This allowed Kanemoto to make home 10-2 Tigers, runner on third. The next two batters struck out and the innings was over. Finally, on what was a long night for the Swallows their ninth came. Kanemura replaced Kubo on the mound and managed to give up a two out hit to Kawabata. However, Aoki grounded out to first and that was that. Tigers victory.

Comprehensive and comfortable is the only way to describe this victory. Tigers had out played Swallows and hit when needed. The actual hit count 11-12 didn't really reflect in the score and it was the ability to hit with runners on and punish errors which gave the Tigers the runs. The fielding had improved nicely and Kubo pitched well to pick up his seventh victory. He has proven to be a great trade and a fine asset. In fact Tigers should be thinking about building their rotation around him and using the younger pitchers as soon as possible.