May 18th Kubo v Ogura - Hawks fail to hold

Tigers wore their retro away uniforms for this game at Yahoo Dome. These are nice powder blue affairs with Hanshin in black (outlined in yellow on the chest) and the yellow and black diamond pattern piping. Kanemoto also returned to action as DH but surprisingly at No. 5 not No. 4. This was very good of him not to take the four slot away from Arai but it did mean that Johjima and Brazell were dropped down to sixth and seventh respectably. There have been some suggestions that Brazell should be batting four not six or seven. Whilst I have some sympathy with this view I do feel that a major impediment to this is that fact that he isn't hitting with runners on. Taking last nights game as an example Brazell struck out twice with runners on. Arai who is currently No. 4 and not batting well still managed to hit the winning run. This is what we do need from Brazell if he can legitimately be considered for the No. 4 position. He might indeed lead the side in RBIs but his last five runs have all been solo home runs and a sacrifice grounder. But in the same period he has failed to convert with runners on nine times. This may be a temporary blip or may be indicative of instructions to swing out but I would say as a manager I would want to see more evidence of consistent ability to drive runners home before I put someone in the No. 4 slot. Brazell is able to hit with runners on but at the moment isn't and this is a reasonable excuse not to move him. On another note it seems that Andoh is considered ready to return to the top team. If he is back to his reliable self this is a welcome move. Anyway on to the game. Scores

        1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 R H E
Tigers  0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1  2 4 8 0
Hawks   0 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 0  0 2 7 0

Starting lineups

Tigers
1. Murton (Centre)
2. Hirano (Second)
3. Toritani (Short)
4. Arai (Third)
5. Kanemoto (DH)
6. Johjima (Catcher)
7. Brazell (First)
8. Sakurai (Right)
9. S. Fujikawa (Left)

Pitcher was Kubo

Hawks
1. Kawasaki (Short)
2. Honda (Second)
3. Ortiz (DH)
4. Kokubo (First)
5. Tamura (Right)
6. Hasegawa (Centre)
7. Lee (Third)
8. Shibahara (Left)
9. Yamazaki (Catcher)

Pitcher was Ogura

Tigers would find it hard work against Ogura but would benefit from Hawks fallible relief. In their first they were retired in order with the first of Ogura's 11 strike outs coming being Murton. At the moment he is striking out more often, perhaps finding Pacific League pitching a bit more troublesome. Honda caused a bit of worry in Hawks first by hitting a one out three base hit. This could have been a big problem but Kubo who also pitched excellently was up to the threat and got Ortiz to hit to short. Honda tried for home but was tagged out by some fine play. With Ortiz on first Kubo then struck out Kokubo to end the innings. Tigers second was also quiet with no life from the batters. Tamura led off Hawks second with a hit and was bunted to second by Hasegawa, Hawks having figured out that this was going to be a close game. However, he didn't get any further as the next two batters flew out. Ogura then showed his first sign of weakness in Tigers third. With two out he walked Shunsuke Fujikawa who promptly stole second (Tigers were pretty much able to steal at will as Yamazaki's throwing was not good). Murton was next and he banged a three base hit off the right wall for a timely hit 1-0 Tigers, runner on third. Hirano was unable to convert and grounded out to second to end the innings. Kubo then held the lead very nicely by retiring the batters in order in Hawks third.

Tigers fourth saw Brazell fail to convert with runners on for the first time this game. With two strike outs to his credit (Toritani and Arai) Ogura was motoring along nicely and looked to be in control However, he managed to walk Kanemoto who promptly stole second (when was the last time you remember Kanemoto doing this?). Johjima walked to set up runners on first and second but Brazell struck out - this was really a wasted chance. Kubo then ran into trouble in Hawks fourth. With one out Kokubo walked. Tamura hit to right to set up runners on first and third but Kubo came through striking out Hasegawa to prevent the sacrifice fly. Lee though managed to draw a walk to load the bases and then Shibahara - a lightweight batter - surprisingly got one through the infield into left field. One runner was home 1-1 scores tied with the second runner making for the plate. Johjima took the throw and tagged him as he slid in for the final out - a fantastic piece of work to end the innings and prevent Hawks seizing the lead. Sakurai who had been quiet up until then led off Tigers fifth with a hit and was bunted to second by Shunsuke Fujikawa but then the next two batters struck out to end the innings. Hawks fith was quiet as Kubo pitched very well to keep the runners off base. Kanemoto picked up his second walk of the evening in Tigers sixth - the Hawks pitching to him was tentative and unsure and he took full advantage. However no one was able to convert. Hawks sixth was quiet as Kubo took care of the the clean up very efficiently.

Ogura retired at the end of the sixth having pitched very well and given up only one run on two hits but with four walks. He was replaced by Kattoh. He walked Sakurai who was bunted to second by Shunsuke Fujikawa but Murton failed to convert. Kubo returned for Hawks seventh and why not - he had pitched well. The first two outs went down easily but then he ran into trouble. Shibahara hit to left and then Yamazaki hit to left as the Hawks threw everything into attack. With runners on first and second Kawasaki also went for it and hit a two base 2-1 Hawks, runners on second and third. Honda then flew out to left to end the innings but the Hawks had the lead. Tigers eighth was pitched by Falkenborg who is quite fast and he retired the batters easily in order. Kubo didn't return for Hawks eighth - he had pitched very well also and for the second start in a row had lacked run support from his batters. Watanabe was the pitcher and he seems back on form now - he retired the batters in order. The ninth innings had arrived and Tigers final chance. Hawks closer Mahara was at the mound and he can be fragile. This would be such an occasion. He started with a hit to Johjima who was pinch run for by Yamato. Johjima seems to have accepted that he can't expect to play in every innings of every game and any switches are not meant to devalue him. He seems to be more comfortable with this now. Yamato then stole second but Brazell flew out. The next out followed - Sakurai grounding out and it began to look like Tigers would fail but Mayumi sent Hiyama to the plate. He hit nicely to left bringing Yamato home 2-2 scores tied, runner on first. Murton grounded out to end the innings but now Hawks needed a sayonara. Egusa took the mound - one of Tigers elite pitchers but who was the catcher? It turned out to be Kanoh who was excellent directing Egusa's pitching with a sure hand the final out being a superb pitch which struck a befuddled Shibahara out looking to end the innings.

The game went to extra innings and Hawks pitcher was Settsu. He didn't look comfortable in this situation. He battled Hirano who then hit to left. Toritani shaped to bunt and made several attempts before switching back to hitting with the count at 2-2. He hit to right and Hirano dashed round to third with Toritani safe on first and no outs. The sacrifice fly was on. Next batter was Arai and Settsu let fly an inside head high pitch to unsettle him. Arai went to ground and then settled into his stance with a look of determination on his face. The next pitch was hit nicely and deeply to right where centre took it but easily enough time for Hirano to make home 3-2 Tigers, runner on first. Kanemoto followed and hit to right to set up runners on first and third again - Toritani having shown great speed round the bases. Yamato followed and there was another sacrifice fly on. Yamato hit to right and once again it was deep enough for Toritani to make home 4-2 Tigers, runner on first. The final batter was Brazell who struck out but Tigers had a nice lead. Of course Hawks 10th was pitched by Kyuji Fujikawa. He started well striking out Tanoue (pinch hitter). Then his control wandered and Kawasaki walked. Kawasaki stole second and then Tamura walked - runners on first and second with one out. Fujikawa and Kanoh responded well - Fujikawa struck out Ortiz for the second out and then Kokubo flew out to centre to end the game. Tigers victory.

This had been a better performance in which Tigers had had some good pitching. Hawks had cracked first and Tigers had made good use of the 10th innings. It was nice to see Kanoh behind the plate again and one hopes that he is used as the regular reserve for Johjima more often. The victory went to Egusa and the save was Fujikawa's eleventh.