August 30th Shimoyanagi v Hisanori Takahashi - Kanemoto drives in a run

After a long fallow period, Kanemoto finally hit an RBI. This was a significant run as Tigers beat the Giants to take their fourth series in a row and extinguish the Giants magic number. We saw a much better performance with Tigers keeping things tight and under control and Giants being unable to generate momentum. Shimoyanagi was much better and was able to go six innings. After this the fight seemed to go out of the Giants and they failed to generate any base runners once the sixth finished. Scores

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

Starting lineups

Giants
1. Sakamoto (Short)
2. Matsumoto (Centre)
3. Ogasawara (Third)
4. Ramirez (Left)
5. Kamei (First)
6. Tani (Right)
7. Abe (Catcher)
8. Wakiya (Second)
9. Hisanori Takahashi (Pitcher)

Tigers
1. Asai (Centre)
2. Hirano (Second)
3. Toritani (Short)
4. Kanemoto (Left)
5. Arai (Third)
6. Brazell (First)
7. Sakurai (Right)
8. Yano (Catcher)
9. Shimoyanagi (Pitcher)

Giants would generate most of their runners in the first innings. Sakamoto started with a hit and then tried to steal second on Matsumoto's strike out. He failed and was thrown out. However, Ogasawara and Ramirez followed with consecutive hits and Shimoyanagi had runners on first and second. He dealt with the problem by getting Kamei to ground out to first. With two out in the bottom Toritani went deep with his first pitch, hitting to right for a solo home run 1-0 Tigers. Kanemoto walked but then Arai flew out. The lead didn't last long as Tani made first on a spilled catch. Abe hit to right and Giants had runners on first and third with no outs. Wakiya grounded out to second but there was time for the runner to make home 1-1 scores tied, runner on first. Takahashi bunted Abe to second but then Sakamoto grounded out weakly to Shimoyanagi to end the innings. Takahashi walked Sakurai in Tigers second and then gave up a hit to Shimoyanagi setting up runners on first and second. Tigers weren't able to exploit this though and that innings was scoreless. Giants third was quiet but then Hirano led off Tigers third with a hit. Toritani grounded out but Kanemoto walked again and with only one out things looked promising. However, Arai grounded out into a double play and the innings petered out scoreless.

The fourth was quiet. Both pitchers were in control and the batters went nowhere. Giants fifth though saw Takahashi hit to left as Shimoyanagi returned the complement given earlier. Sakamoto walked and then Takuya Kimura's (pinch hitter and replacement first) fly took Takahashi to third. However, Shimoyanagi struck out Ogasawara to end that threat. With two out in Tigers fifth Hirano hit nicely to centre. He then stole second and Toritani walked to set up runners on first and second. Kanemoto was next and he has been awful with runners on recently. This time was differently and he drove the ball into centre field for a timely hit 2-1 Tigers, runners on first and third. Arai flew out to end the innings but Tigers had restored the lead. They needed to hold it and Mayumi took a bit of a risk sending Shimoyanagi to the mound again. Recently he has only been good for five innings but this time would be different. It wasn't without its wobbles though. Ramirez led off the Giants sixth with a hit. One out later Tani's hit sent him to second. Abe flew out to centre and Ramirez waddled round to third (with Tani on first). Wakiya couldn't convert and struck out to end the innings. A nice performance by the Tigers veteran and nice work by Yano as well. Takahashi returned for Tigers sixth and retired the batters in order.

Giants seventh was pitched by Atchison, Mayumi wisely deciding that it would be too dangerous to risk another Shimoyanagi innings and he was near his limit anyway. Atchison was smooth and in control retiring the three Giants he faced in order. Hara also replaced his pitcher for the Tigers seventh, Shota Kimura taking the mound. He also retired the batters in order. Atchison returned for the Giants eighth and here he faced their cleanup, Ogasawara, Ramirez and Kamei. This didn't make any difference as he motored through all three striking out Kamei to end the innings. Tigers lead was still intact. Shota Kimura was not so proficient in the Tigers eighth. He started with a two base hit to Toritani. Kanemoto flew out to right and Toritani tagged up and made third. Next came Arai who hit deep to left where Ramirez took the catch. However, Toritani had time to make home 3-1 Tigers. Brazell then hit another two base and Shota Kimura then deliberately walked Sakurai. Yano also walked to load the bases which was not planned and Hara decided a new pitcher was needed. This was Fujita who got Hiyama (pinch hitter) to fly out and end the innings but Tigers had a much more comfortable lead. Of course the Giants ninth was pitched by Fujikawa who retired the three batters he faced, striking out two to end the game. Tigers victory.

Tigers have now won their last four series against the Giants and August has been a definite improvement in performance. If only our kantoku could resist the urge to use relief pitchers as starters things might be perfect. The team has been carrying a non-performing Kanemoto as well but has ended up with a 14-12 record. It's a long time since they have managed a winning month. Fujikawa now has 17 saves and is pitching a lot better than before.