June 2nd Fossum v Nagai - A big ninth

Tigers had to work hard for this victory and for a long time it looked as if the poor batting of the previous game would continue. Fossum was much improved from his previous two poor starts and did quite well in giving up only two runs. It remains to be seen whether he can develop the consistency that Tigers need from their starters. Toritani continued in the lead off slot and even though he had a good game here with one hit and three walks it still seems a waste of his ability to drive runs in. Hirano was very much on form going 4-5 and also driving in a run. It was also interesting to see Uezono used in a relief role in the eighth and Kyuji used in the ninth with a four run lead (a non-save situation) which is something Mayumi does a lot. I would have preferred it if he had used Kyuji in the ninth in the first game and then a different pitcher in the ninth in this game. We might then have come away with two wins rather than a split series but I do understand those who argue that Kyuji should have been kept for the save situation. Johjima still hasn't figured out how Egusa's rather unique pitching style works and the latter isn't as effective as he could be. The explosion in the ninth was welcome and Tigers were able to win nicely and restore some confidence. Scores

               1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R  H E
Tigers         0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 5 7 12 1
Golden Eagles  0 0 1 0 1 0 1 0 0 3  7 0

Starting lineups

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

Pitcher was Fossum

Golden Eagles
1. Hijirisawa (Centre)
2. Takasu (Second)
3. Teppei (Right)
4. Nakamura (Third)
5. Yamasaki (DH)
6. Ruiz (First)
7. Miyade (Left)
8. Shima (Catcher)
9. Watanabe (Short)

Pitcher was Nagai

Tigers started the first in quiet fashion. All three batters falling in order and no sign of any life. However, the big question was - how would Fossum do after his two poor starts. He retired the first two batters striking out Takasu looking but then Teppei hit to centre. Nakamura was next and he also struck out looking - it looked like Fossum had certainly regained his control of the zone. Kanemoto led off Tigers second with a hit. The rest seems to have done him good as he is hitting more nowadays. Unfortunately Arai then hit into a double play which seemed to show that not everyone was on form. Brazell struck out swinging and Tigers second was over. Yamasaki started Golden Eagles second with a hit to left. The batters then tried to move him round without success - Yamasaki is not the fleetest of runners and so the two flyouts that followed couldn't get him to second and he was still on first as Shima struck out to end the innings. Things started to happen in the Tigers third. Johjima walked but neither Katsuragi or Sakurai did anything which brought up Toritani with two out. He also walked and Hirano took stance. He hasn't been effective in driving in RBIs but this time banged a nice hit to centre to bring the runner home 1-0 Tigers, runners on first and third, Toritani using his speed round the bases to good effect. Murton also hit to centre and Toritani was home 2-0 Tigers, runners on first and second. Kanemoto tried to punch one through the gap between the pitcher and short but only succeeded in lining out to short to end the innings. A good start. Golden Eagles were able to partially respond immediately. Watanabe grounded out but Hijirisawa hit. Takasu provided the second out and Fossum tried to winkle Teppei out but this didn't come off and the Rakuten right walked - runners on first and second. Nakamura hit to right and the runner made home safely 2-1 Tigers, runners on first and second. Yamasaki hit straight to Fossum for an easy ground out and the lead was still intact though reduced.

In Tigers fourth Brazell was able to put one over centre but only for a hit. Johjima then hit into a double play to end the innings. Tigers batters were beginning to hit but were having trouble breaking down Golden Eagles. Golden Eagles fourth saw some of Fossum's best pitching - the batters going down in order with another two strike outs. Fossum and Nagai would actually end up equal in strikeouts, runs and batters faced. Nagai ran into a problem in the Tigers fifth. He got the first two batters - Katsuragi and Sakurai but then walked Toritani again. Hirano hit to centre for the second time and Tigers had runners on first and third. This time Murton failed to convert and the chance was lost. As if in response to this Golden Eagles upped their game - Watanabe walked. Hijirisawa bunted him to second and then Takasu hit his first pitch to centre. This was enough for the runner to make home 2-2 scores tied, runner on first. Teppei hit his first pitch to Fossum who dropped the ball allowing runners on first and second. Nakamura grounded out to second but moved the runners round to second and third. Things looked dangerous but Fossum pitched nicely getting Yamasaki to ground out to second as well and end the innings. Tigers sixth was Nagai's last - he had proved surprisingly resilient apart from the third but was tiring. He gave up a hit to Brazell with two out and then walked Johjima but struck out the ineffective Katsuragi to end the innings. He had managed to keep Golden Eagles in the game. Fossum's sixth was also his last innings. He had done much better this outing and if he can maintain this consistency he will be a very useful pitcher to have on board. He started the innings with a walk to Ruiz. Miyade flew out and then Shima hit into a double play to end the innings.

For Tigers seventh Brown started with Aoyama and this rapidly proved to be a mistake. Sakurai struck out but Toritani picked up his third walk of the game. Hirano hit to left and then Murton walked to load the bases with just one out. Exit Aoyama to be replaced by Katayama. He had a bit of a task but responded well striking out Kanemoto and then getting Arai to fly out to end the innings. Tigers had wasted a very good chance and Golden Eagles would make them pay for it. The bottom of the seventh was pitched by Egusa whom Johjima still treats as a conventional pitcher - not a rather unique left hander. This causes problems and would do so this innings. Egusa started by walking Watanabe. Then as with the run before Hijirisawa bunted the runner to second. Takasu grounded out for the second out but the runner advanced to third. This unsettled Tigers and Egusa gave up a two base hit to Teppei 3-2 Golden Eagles. Mayumi hurriedly switched pitchers and brought on Watanabe. It was decided to deliberately walk Nakamura - a move which smacks of panic and always puts the pitcher under pressure. Sure enough Watanabe then walked Yamasaki to load the bases. The situation had gone from a runner on second to bases loaded with Ruiz next. Watanabe managed to calm down enough to strike the batter out to end the innings but it had been close. Katayama also started Tigers eighth and dead balled Sekimoto (pinch hitter for Katsuragi) with two out. This was enough for Brown who replaced him with Koyama. Mayumi also acted replacing Sekimoto with Shunsuke Fujikawa to add a bit of speed. This worked as Fujikawa stole second but Sakurai struck out to end the innings. The game was slipping away from Tigers. Surprisingly the pitcher for Golden Eagles eighth was Uezono and one wonders whether Mayumi and Kubo want to turn him into a closer or that they are short of reliable closers at the moment. In any even he was good retiring the batters in order. Tigers ninth - the last chance. At the mound Kawagishi - Golden Eagles closer and successful pitcher of the night before. He walked Toritani who was pinch run for by Yamato. Toritani is fast but Yamato is faster. Mayumi tried a last throw of the dice - he signaled the steal. Yamato dived into second head first just tagging the sack in time - he was safe. Hirano bunted and beat out the throw to first - his fourth hit and runners on first and third with no outs. Tigers were nicely poised. Murton struck out and one chance was down. The next batter was Kanemoto and Kawagishi decided to pitch too him rather than walk him as pitchers often do to Kanemoto. Kanemoto waited and then selected his pitch hitting it over the infield into right for a timely hit 3-3 scores tied, runners on first and third - Hirano having raced round to third. This was a body blow to Golden Eagles and their heads went down. The next batter Arai hit deep to right and for a sacrifice fly and the go ahead run 4-3 Tigers, runner on first. There was still one out to get. Brazell was next and he hit over right which put runners on the corners again. A faltering Kawagishi faced Johjima who slammed his second pitch to left for a three run home run 7-3 Tigers - a hit which put the game beyond doubt. Shunsuke Fujikawa flew out to end the innings but it was unimportant as Tigers were comfortable now. Mayumi though wasn't taking any chances and so sent Kyuji Fujikawa to the mound. He got Hijirisawa to strike out but then gave up a hit to Uchimura (replacement second). Teppei struck out but Uchimura was able to take second. However, it didn't avail him as Nakamura hit to Arai for a ground out. Tigers victory.

A nice comeback by Tigers who had lost the lead but then taken it back in grand fashion. This time the batters had stuck to their task and had successfully reaped the rewards as Golden Eagles faltered. One must also give credit to Mayumi for his bold decision to replace Toritani with Yamato in the ninth and to signal the risky steal. This was a good gamble and gave the vital boost. The win went to Uezono - nice for one innings work and suitable reward for the time the coaches wrecked his earlier outing. Tigers now return to Osaka to take on the Buffaloes at Koshien on Friday.