June 29th Standridge v Asakura - Brazell hits three home runs

The last time a Tigers player hit three home runs in a game was Andy Sheets against the Giants at Tokyo Dome back (I believe) in 2006. Craig Brazell became the latest Tiger to accomplish this feat in a game where Tigers overwhelmed the Dragons comprehensively. Arai and Johjima also joined in the feast and a late flurry from the Dragons could not disguise that this was not their night at all. Standridge did get himself into one or two pickles but was able to extract himself from them effectively and pitched seven effective innings of one run ball. Neither of the two new relievers Fujihara or Yokoyama shone but it is nice to see them up in the top team and it is to be hoped that they get more chances. Scores

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

Starting lineups

Dragons
1. Araki (Short)
2. Hidenori (Centre)
3. Morino (Third)
4. Wada (Left)
5. Blanco (First)
6. Nomoto (Right)
7. N. Donoue (Second)
8. Oyama (Catcher)
9. Asakura (Pitcher)

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

The Dragons first was quiet - no one made base. Toritani led off Tigers first with a hit. Hirano bunted him to second but then the innings stalled and neither Murton nor Arai moved him any further. Standridge then almost made a mess of Dragons second. Wada led off the innings with a three base hit nicely drilled over Murton. Standridge struck out Blanco but then walked Nomoto and Donoue to load the bases. This was still with only one out and at least a sacrifice run was on. Oyama tried to supply the sacrifice but only succeeded in flying out to second and the runners remained on base. The next batter was Asakura who struck out swinging to end the innings. Tigers had got out of the jam and Dragons had wasted a big chance. Brazell led off Tigers second and hit his first home run - a solo shot to left which was wind assisted 1-0 Tigers. No other batter got on base and it looked as if Asakura was in control apart from that odd mistake. Araki then led off Dragons third with a hit. This looked ominous but petered out. Hidenori flew out but Morino's ground out moved Araki round to second. Blanco couldn't convert and the innings was over. Tigers then stepped up a gear and really worked Asakura over in brutal fashion. The first batter of the innings was Standridge who, of course, was out. Then Toritani hit. Hirano grounded out to Araki who messed it up. Murton hit a two base to left and this brought Toritani home 2-0 Tigers, runners on second and third. Arai followed with a majestic three run home run 5-0 Tigers. Brazell came up next and hit his second home run of the evening, another solo 6-0 Tigers. Johjima grounded out and Lin flew out to end the innings but Tigers had a big lead. However, they have blown such a lead before against the Dragons so they couldn't afford to relax.

Actually though Dragons fourth turned out to be rather straightforward for Standridge. Blanco snatched at a pitch and flew out in the right foul area and then some nice pitching struck out Nomoto looking. Finally, Donoue struck out swinging to end the innings. Tigers fourth was also quiet though this wasn't such a problem with a six run lead. In Dragons fifth Oyama hit and then Matsui (pinch hitter) also hit with no outs. Maybe the Dragons would mount their comeback. It was not to be. Araki hit into a double play and whilst this moved Oyama to third, Hidenori flew out to right to end the innings. Having used a pinch hitter, Ochiai needed to put a new arm on the mound and this was Nelson. He had the same amount of luck as Asakura before. With one out Murton banged another two base hit to left. Arai grounded out and then Brazell hit hard again. Another home run, this time a two run 8-0 Tigers. Johjima was next and he took the ball deep as well for a solo home run 9-0 Tigers and Dragons pitchers were really being taken apart. Lin was the final batter of the innings grounding out to allow Dragons a breathing space. In Dragons sixth Wada drew a walk but then Blanco hit into a double play and the innings was over. Tigers sixth saw Standridge pick up a walk and then be joined on base by Hirano but nothing came of this as Murton failed to convert.

The seventh rolled around and Standridge was still on the mound. It was beginning to look like a complete game shutout was on the cards but it was not to be. Nomoto got hold of his first pitch and directed it to right for a wind assisted solo home run 9-1 Tigers. Donoue hit but then a double play from Oyama extinguished him. Nakagawa (pinch hitter) swung and propelled the ball high into the Koshien sky and Hirano moved round and took the catch to end the innings. Hisamoto pitched Tigers seventh and also ran into trouble. Arai walked and then Brazell hit to left runners on first and second. They stayed there as Johjima flew out but then Asai (pinch hitter) hit a two base to left centre - runner home, 10-1 Tigers, runners on second and third. Sakurai propelled one to centre for a sacrifice fly 11-1 Tigers and they were well and truly out of sight. Kanemoto struck out with a runner on second to end the innings. For Dragons eighth Mayumi decided to try out Fujihara and this provided a chance for the Dragons to give something back for their torment. With one out Hidenori hit a two base to left. Morino followed with a two base to left centre 11-2 Tigers, runner on second. Wada flew out but Blanco hit a two base to left 11-3 Tigers, runner on second. Nomoto struck out looking to end the innings. Fujihara had drifted a bit too much to left and needs to tighten up. Tigers eighth was pitched Shimizu who accomplished the unusual feat for the Dragons pitchers this evening of retiring the batters in order. The final innings loomed and Mayumi put Yokoyama onto the mound. He got his first two outs but then started to get nervous. T. Donoue (replacement left). A pass ball took him to second which brought up Araki. He managed to connect and put his first home run of the season over the fence 11-5 Tigers. This was a big surprise for everyone as Araki is not a home run batter by any stretch of the imagination. All this succeeded in unsettling Yokoyama more and he gave up a hit to Hidenori. Then he walked Morino to set up runners on first and second. At this point Mayumi decided that enough was enough and asked Kubota to get the final out. Kubota did this by persuading Arai's brother (Dragons replacement first) that it was a good idea to fly out to right and end the game. Tigers victory.

This had been a dominating performance. Tigers batters had controlled proceedings and batted with confidence and authority. Standridge had pitched well and picked up his fourth victory. He is growing and one hopes that this continues. Mayumi had also done well in pulling Standridge when he did. He didn't overpitch him and showed an awareness of his pitchers limitations. It was also a good chance to try some young relievers and the coaches now have some idea of where these young guys have to work.