August 12th Kubo v Stults - Johjima shows the way

Tigers really did need to stop their losing streak (five games and counting) and had come close the previous game but had just fallen short. Unfortunately, Kubo was once again very poor, struggling with location and easily hittable by Carp's lightweight batters. His last three starts have been great disappointments probably because he's tired. Still the win came and Kubo rather fortunately reached 10 victories for the season. The catalyst and main factor for the victory was Johjima. I was sceptical about the signing before the season but happily have to admit I was wrong. Johjima has added an enormous amount to the side in commitment and in power. He turned what was looking like a Carp victory into a good victory for the Tigers. He also sparked a triple back to back home run feast. The last one of these for the Tigers was back in 2003 under Hoshino against Yokohama (Hamanaka, Kataoka and Arias). This sparked a seven run sixth innings which gave Tigers the lead for good. Giants were also swept by Swallows which put Tigers back on top - maybe they can use this to gain some momentum. On a less encouraging note Nohmi is likely to return in September not August as originally planned. The club is being cautious about his injury and making sure that he is fully recovered before risking him on the mound. Scores

        1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9  R  H E
Tigers  0 1 0 0 0 7 1 1 0 10 19 1
Carp    2 0 1 0 0 1 1 0 1  6 12 0

Starting lineups

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

Carp
1. Higashide (Second)
2. Soyogi (Short)
3. Shima (Left)
4. Kurihara (Third)
5. Hirose (Right)
6. Akamatsu (Centre)
7. Iwamoto (First)
8. Ishihara (Catcher)
9. Stults (Pitcher)

Tigers start was good with Hirano hitting to right and Arai walking with two outs. The situation was set up for Brazell to hit but he instead flew out to centre. Spirits fell - this was the recent setting up of and wasting of chances. Kubo was bad again. He didn't have any control at all and Carp despite being lightweight exploited it to the full. Higashide started with an enormous three base hit to right centre. Soyogi hit to left just avoiding the diving Toritani's outstretched glove for a timely single 1-0 Carp, runner on first. Shima swung wildly and somehow managed to drive the ball along the first baseline into the corner for a two base timely hit 2-0 Carp, runner on second and a disastrous start for Tigers. Kurihara hit to left to set up runners on first and third and so far Kubo hadn't recorded a single out. The parallels with the recent meltdown against the Giants were clear. However, he was facing a lesser team and was able to stem the flood. Hirose flew out to centre but the sacrifice didn't happen. Akamatsu flew out to third - no run there and finally Iwamoto grounded out to first. Stults dealt with Kanemoto who led off Tigers second easily enough and then faced Johjima. He walloped his third pitch to left where it just stayed fair and crossed the fence for a solo home run 2-1 Carp. All the home runs this evening were to left. Sakurai and Kubo both flew out and the innings was over with the lead trimmed. In Carp's second Higashide managed another two base hit with two out but this time Soyogi struck out looking to end the innings. Murton led Tigers third off with a hit - Stults wasn't pitching well and the only thing keeping him in the game was Tigers abysmal batting. Hirano bunted him to second and then Toritani hit to left but Murton didn't try for home and Tigers had runners on first and third with only one out. A great chance - which they wasted. Arai flew out in foul ground and Brazell struk out to end the innings. Kubo continued to pitch poorly and waywardly. With one out he walked Kurihara. Hirose hit to right centre - a two base which brought home Kurihara 3-1 Carp, runner on second. A wild pitch took Hirose to third and the sacrifice fly was on. Akamatsu grounded out to Toritani which kept the runner on third and then Iwamoto flew out in foul ground and the innings was over but the lead was back up to two runs and it looked as if Tigers were going to blow this one as well.

It began to look more like this after Tigers fourth. Kanemoto hit but was extinguished by a Johjima double play. Sakurai flew out to end the innings. Carp's fourth was quiet with the batters falling in order. Things hotted up a bit in the fifth. Kubo hit and with two out was bunted to second by HIrano. Toritani walked and Tigers were in with another chance. Once again Arai flew out in foul ground and one had to feel that Tigers were going to waste everything. Luckily, Carp would also waste the golden opportunity of the fifth as well. Kubo started by walking Soyogi and then Shima hit to set up runners on first and second. Kurihara struck out but then Johjima decided to deliberately walk HIrose to get at the lesser batters - bases loaded. Two nights before this strategy had failed miserably and it was a high risk move. This time it worked Akamatsu grounded out to third and then Iwamoto struck out swinging to end the chance. Even so Carp were in control and Stults was looking secure. Up until the Tigers sixth that is. His second pitch to Brazell was off course and hit the Tigers first in the back - dead ball. Kanemoto hit to right to set up runners on first and second. It's a long time since Kanemoto has managed a two hit game. Johjima was next and here is where the fun started. Stults was high and off target - and Johjima hammered him into the left stand for his second home run of the evening - a three run, 4-3 Tigers. Next was Sakurai who hit hard to left for another home run, a solo 5-3 Tigers. Then Kanoh (pinch hitter and replacement left) who hit his solo out of the ground 6-3 Tigers with no outs and a triple back to back. It would have been a good time for Nomura to remove Stults but he unaccountably kept him in the game. It was to prove the doom of the Carp. Murton hit to centre. The first out followed, Hirano struck out. Then Toritani drove to right - Murton raced round the bases to reach third safely and Toritani timed his run nicely to reach second. Tigers were in with a chance - this time Arai bisected third and short nicely with his third pitch driving home both runners 8-3 Tigers. Brazell flew out and then a wild pitch took Arai to second. Finally, Kanemoto flew out to second to end the innings. Tigers had scored 7 and guaranteed victory. Carp would try to fight back but didn't have the power and heavy artillery to do so. Nishimura took over from Kubo who retired after the fifth. He started with a loose pitch which became an entitled two base hit for Ishihara. Huber grounded out and then Higashide flew out moving Ishihara to third. Soyogi hit a two base to centre bringing the runner homr 8-4 Tigers, runner on second. However, Shima flew out to right to end the innings.

Umetsu pitched Tigers seventh and started by dead balling Johjima. This would return to haunt Carp. Sakurai hit to right to set up runners on first and second. Two outs followed and then Nomura switched pitchers - certainly more precipitate than with Stults but just as ineffective. Kojima took the mound and faced Hirano who hit to left bringing home Johjima 9-4 Tigers, runners on first and second. Toritani grounded out to end the innings. Tigers pitcher for the Carp seventh was Fujihara who started by getting Kurihara to fly out. Hirose swung at his first pitch and hit it over the left fence for a solo home run 9-5 Tigers, Akamatsu struck out and then Iwamoto flew out to end the innings. The Carp were able to get the odd run but didn't have the firepower to do more. This was demonstrated nicely in the Tigers eighth with Arai leading off. He blasted a long solo home run off Kishimoto - nicely struck it landed in the lower stand 10-5 Tigers. Johjima hit and Shunsuke Fujikawa (replacement centre) also hit but with two outs it wasn't likely that another run would follow and this was the case - Kanoh grounded out to end the innings. For Carp's eighth Mayumi chose Kubota - he wanted to ensure the victory and he doesn't have many relief pitchers he can use. Kubota did just what was needed retiring the batters in order and sealing the victory. Saitoh pitched Tigers ninth and gave up a one out two base hit to Hirano Toritani grounded out to second which moved Hirano to third. This brought up Arai who grounded out but this time it didn't matter, he had redeemed his earlier failures and broken out of his slump very emphatically. Surprisingly Kubota returned for Carp's ninth - he really shouldn't be used for two innings and once again this was Mayumi's ineptness. Soyogi flew out and Shima hit desperately to right for a two base hit. Kurihara flew out and then Mayumi switched to Kyuji Fujikawa. It had been a pointless exercise and Mayumi should have used Kyuji right from the start. Hirose hit his second pitch to third where a throwing error by Arai allowed the runner to reach home 10-6 Tigers, runner on second. Akamatsu took a big swing and flew out to centre to end the game. Tigers victory.

Tigers had blown the Carp away with a demonstration of power. Kubo undeservedly picked up the win but with the Giants losing Tigers were on top of the Central League again (though only by percentage, the games between are 0). The batting had been led by Johjima who seems to have taken over the role of Tigers hero from Kanemoto. Arai broke out of his slump and once again Hirano was hitting. Tigers need to build momentum from this victory as they take on the hot Swallows at Kyocera Dome.