August 27th Messenger v Tateyama - Tigers don't roar

It was a surprise to see Messenger pitching - one thought that after his previous bad starts he would be sidelined but no. He wasn't too bad but disintergrated with runners on. It was also nice to see Sajikihara back in the relief even though he was a bit wild and gave up two runs. There was some good stuff in his pitching. If he can curb the wildness he can be a most useful addition to the bullpen just when it needs it. Tateyama was very, very good and fully deserved his win. We do need someone of his quality. Scores

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

Starting lineups

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

Swallows
1. Aoki (Centre)
2. Tanaka (Second)
3. Iihara (Left)
4. Whitesell (First)
5. Hatakeyama (Third)
6. Aikawa (Catcher)
7. Takeuchi (Right)
8. Fujimoto (Short)
9. Tateyama (Pitcher)

Tigers would find Tateyama difficult to hit but Hirano and Kanemoto would both manage two hits apiece. Hirano's first hit came in Tigers first a hit to left on a full count. However, Mayumi has this half-witted idea that if Toritani strikes out Hirano should steal second. It's regularly tried and regularly fails. This time it was tried and failed with Hirano being caught in the basepath and tagged out to end the innings. Swallows first was just quiet as Messenger retired the batters in order. In Tigers second Kanemoto hit with two out - a very nice hit but which Johjima proceeded to waste though it was a good catch by Aoki to end the innings. Swallows second was quiet with a sublime strike out looking of Aikawa by Messenger. He definitely was pitching better this game. Tigers third followed a similar pattern with Murton striking out agaiin to Tateyama - he would strike out four times in all in the game. Swallows third also saw no action - so far Tigers had generated all the hits - two.

In Tigers fourth Hirano led off the innings with a hit. Once again Toritani struck out swinging and once again Hirano was instructed to steal and was tagged out. Arai flew out to centre to end the innings and thiings continued as before. Swallows fourth started smoothly and encouragingly with the first two batters grounding out. Then Messenger unaccountably walked Iihara - maybe his concentration was going. Next was Whitesell who swung nicely and blasted a two run home run 2-0 Swallows. He really is looking like the next Giants or Dragons foreign star (though Harper is also in the running). Hatakeyama walked but Aikawa grounded out to Messenger to end the innings. Swallows had drawn first blood. Tigers fifth saw Kanemoto hit with Brazell out. Then Johjima hit into a double play to end the innings. Swallows fifth was quiet and for the most part Messenger was doing a good job of controlling the Swallows batters (for the most part). Tateyama though was unassailable and the game was being played at a terrific pace. Tigers sixth was quiet - no runs and two more strike outs, one being Messenger again to end the innings. Messenger then gave up a hit to Aoki to right. He was bunted to second by Tanaka which brought up Iihara. He stroked his first pitch smoothly to right for a two run home run 4-0 Swallows. A big oops moment and the picture of Messenger biting his shirt was certainly touching. Whtesell grounded out and then Hatakeyama flew out to right to end the innings with Swallows firmly in the driving seat.

Tigers seventh saw Toritani hit but nothing came of this and you began to think in terms of a complete game shutout for Tateyama. Egusa pitched Swallows seventh and with two out gave up a hit to Kawabata (replacement short), Toritani taking a fine stop but being unable to make the throw. Tateyama struck out swinging to end the innings. In Tigers eighth with Tateyama showing no signs of tiring Lin (pinch hitter) hit but then Hiyama (pinch hitter) flew out to left to end the innings. Swallows eighth saw Sajikihara whose return was hardly auspicious. He dead balled Aoki - rather unluckily catching him on the foot. I rather tend to think that the dead ball thing is a bit absurd and should not include the legs or arms. Aoki was bunted to second by Tateyama and then Iihara hit nicely to right over Lin (replacement right) for a three base hit 5-0 Swallows, runner on third. Whitesell hit to centre a kind of aborted home run drive which landed safe 6-0 Swallows, runner on first. Sajikihara let fly a real wild pitch which took Whitesell to second. Hatakeyama walked to set up runners on first and second but Aikawa flew out to second. Finally, Takeuchi flew out to left to end the innings. So to Tigers ninth and would Tateyama get his complete game shutout. The answer was yes and in surprisingly straightforward style. Murton struck out looking, he was the only difficult one. Then Hirano drove his first pitch to second and Toritani lined out to short with his first pitch. Swallows victory.

The game was over in just under two and a half hours and Swallows had won a comfortable victory on the back of an excellent pitching performance from Tateyama. Messenger had improved but hadn't managed to avoid runs. Giants and Dragons both lost in extra innings so Tigers position as No. 2 remained unaltered. Tigers couldn't do anything about this loss but they do need to make sure that they beat the Swallows other pitchers.