September 2nd Messenger v Kaga - Kubota hits a run

Tigers didn't quite overwhelm BayStars this time but still won comfortably. Messenger was much improved and picked up his first win in a long time. This was actually a game Tigers needed to win - they had four games on the Giants and to ensure that they win they really need to take advantage of this. Last night's game was the perfect result though the batting did struggle against Kaga (a sidearm pitcher) and Kanemoto in particular had no clue how to handle him. Kaga despite his good pitching in the first five innings didn't get much run support with only Harper showing any ability. BayStars truly are just hoping for the end of another mediocre season. On a much more interesting note Brazell hit his 100th RBI - the first time he has done so in Japan. Scores

          1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R  H E
BayStars  1 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 3  8 1
Tigers    0 1 0 0 0 2 3 0 X 6 13 1

Starting lineups

BayStars
1. Uchikawa (Right)
2. Ishikawa (Short)
3. Harper (First)
4. Murata (Third)
5. Sledge (Left)
6. Shimozono (Centre)
7. Castillo (Second)
8. Ninuma (Catcher)
9. Kaga (Pitcher)

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)

Uchikawa started the game off by grounding out. Ishikawa bounced one high inside the diamond. Toritani had to run in quite a distance and even then couldn't reach it in time deflecting the ball in front of him with his glove. Ishikawa was safe on first. Harper was next and he actually found it easy to hit Messenger. The Tigers pitcher was over-concerned about Ishikawa on first and this preyed on his mind. So much so that he tried the usual tactic of a throw to first to pick the runner off. Like so many occasions this was a waste of effort but the throw was so low and wayward that Brazell couldn't take it and the ball rolled off into foul ground. Ishikawa of course set off and made third before Tigers were able to re-establish some form of control. Harper then hit comfortably into centre for a 1-0 lead to the BayStars, runner on first. Murata grounded out into a double play but the BayStars had a lead. Kaga had quite a nervous first innings. Murton grounded out but then Hirano hit to centre. Toritani flew out - he would try to hit Kaga to left but this time only ended up in the glove of Murata. Arai hit a grounder to second which Castillo messed up and Tigers had runners on first and second. Brazell walked to load the bases but Kanemoto just couldn't figure out Kaga and flew out to left. Sledge led off BayStars second with a hit to left but was forced out by Shimozono's ground out to Hirano. Shimozono stayed on first though first Castillo and then Ninuma were out. Johjima led off Tigers second with a hit as well. This time the ground out (Shunsuke Fujikawa) was to third and Johjima was able to take second. Messenger struck out but Murton drove his first pitch to left for a timely hit 1-1 scores tied, runner on second. Murton was able to take second sliding in and bulldozing Castillo off base. The BayStars second needed a bit of treatment to his foot but was OK. Hirano tried to hit to centre but flew out to end the innings. BayStars third was quiet with Messenger inducing a couple of flies and a ground out. Toritani led off the innings with a bounce hit which Castillo failed to take; the latter was probably still feeling the effects of his impact with Murton earlier. Arai though hit weakly back to Kaga who threw to second to initiate an easy double play. Brazell grounded out to Castillo who dropped the ball but recovered in time for the out and the innings was over.

Messenger faced Harper the second time leading off BayStars fourth. Messenger was loose and Harper punished him for it hitting nicely to right for a solo home run 2-1 BayStars. Murata tried the same thing but flew out and Sledge grounded out. A one run lead wasn't too difficult to overturn but suddenly Messenger's placement deserted him and he walked Shimozono in four. Would BayStars be able to take advantage of this mistake and build a big innings. Not this time as Castillo flew out to second. BayStars had the lead back but really had been ordinary and owed it all to Harper. Kaga entered the best phase of his session - Tigers fourth saw Kanemoto strike out looking totally fooled by the pitching. The next two batters did nothing either and the lead was intact. Ninuma led off BayStars fifth with a hit and was bunted to second by Kaga. Uchikawa grounded out to second which took the runner to third but then Ishikawa was fooled by some nice pitching and struck out swinging to end the innings. Tigers fifth was quiet until Hirano came to the plate. He figured that using the left baseline would be productive and proceeded to make Kaga work fouling and trying to hit left. Finally, he put one over Murata where it just landed fair, a puff of dust from the line being visible. Because it was so close Hirano was only able to make first. Toritani also worked Kaga and while he was doing so Hirano stole second. However, Toritani eventually struck out but Tigers two and three had done well. Mayumi judged that Messenger had another innings in him which was true and so he faced BayStars clean up. They presented no problems at all and fell in order. Kaga of course returned for Tigers sixth and gave up a hit to Arai. This was lucky - it flew off Arai's bat and landed luckily and safely in right. Brazell hit more convincingly to right and Tigers had runners on first and second. Kanemoto struck out swinging - he still hadn't figured out Kaga and then Johjima totally miscued his hit which bounced and dribbled just in front of him. Kaga picked up and threw to first for the out but Arai and Brazell were on second and third. Two out and Lin (pinch hitter) next. He was deliberately walked to load the bases and get at the next batter which turned out to be Hiyama. The first pitch he received was a low inside strike. Then the next was higher and Hiyama deliberately swung for the second strike. The third was a little outside and Hiyama lifted it nicely over the infield into the left field for a timely hit, two runners home 3-2 Tigers, runners on first and third. A totally professional and brilliant at bat. The looks on the faces of the BayStars manager and pitching coach registered stunned disbelief. The final batter of the innings was Murton who grounded out to end the innings.

For BayStars seventh Mayumi put Nishimura on the mound. He faced Shimozono who hit to left where Kanemoto made a brilliant diving catch taking the ball in front of him just before it hit the ground. Castillo though hit to cente and so did Ninuma - runners on first and second and things were looking dangerous. Originally, Mayumi had intended to have Nishimura go the whole seventh but this was obviously out of the question and so he brought in Kubota to get the final two outs. Kubota faced Kinjoh who swung at his first pitch and deposited in the glove of Toritani. Next though was a far more formidable batter, Uchikawa. Kubota was at full speed though - his first strike was a 151 kmh straight ball. The second was a 154 kmh straight ball which wizzed through the zone. There was then a bit of a battle - Kubota's slower pitches weren't locating and Uchikawa was fouling well until Kubota fired off another fast straight ball (153 kmh) which had Uchikawa flailing wildly for the strike out and third out. The lead was intact. Kaga was replaced by Sanada for Tigers seventh. He has quite a decent record against Tigers but once again Hirano was hitting left. Toritani also tried this and drove the ball ferociously along the ground past Murata's despairing dive and parallel to the third baseline. This hit took Hirano to third and put Toritani on second with no outs. Tigers did need more runs and this was a great opportunity. Arai flew out to the catcher - he was furious with himself. The next batter was Brazell who just swung and popped his first pitch up for a fly. However, with Brazell a fly like that lands just in front of the left field fence. Sledge took the catch but Hirano had ample time to make home 4-2 Tigers, runner on third. The perfect sacrifice fly and Brazell's 100th RBI of the season. Kanemoto was next and he drove the ball neatly between Sanada's legs for a centre timely hit 5-2 Tigers, runner on first (this was Uemoto who pinch ran for Kanemoto). Johjima hit to right and Uemoto was round to third. BayStars seemed to have nothing left but Kubota was the next batter, Mayumi wanting to use him for the BayStars eighth. Watanabe might have been possible but Kubota was more reliable. He has never driven in a run and one didn't think that the rally would continue but Kubota hit past Murata. Ishikawa took the ball covering and threw to first but too late, Kubota was safe and the runner was home 6-2 Tigers, runners on first and third. Finally, Asai (replacement centre) struck out swinging to end the innings but Tigers were heading towards another victory. Kubota returned of course and walked Ishikawa - his slower pitches being very wild. Harper flew out to left but then Murata took a wild swing at a slider. This flew off his bat into right where it landed at the junction of the field and rightfield fence in fair ground. It squirted round the guttering forcing Hirano (moved to right) to chase it and giving Ishikawa time to get home safely 6-3, runner on second. A total fluke but Tigers still had a comfortable lead. Sledge got a vicious pitch which forced him to fly out to Arai and then Shimozono did the same to Brazell and the innings was over. Sakamoto pitched Tigers eighth and retired the batters in order. BayStars ninth was the inevitable Kyuji Fujikawa who started by striking out Castillo. Ninuma and Fujita (pinch hitter) both flew out to centre and the game was over. Tigers victory.

Tigers swept the BayStars for the second time in a row. They had to work harder this game but they showed the necessary application and were just several levels too good for The BayStars. Hiyama picked up a well deserved hero interview and Messenger his fourth win. His pitching has improved greatly over the past two games and this was a good win. Kyuji picked up his 22nd save and once again Kubota had done very well. Giants didn't play so this win widened the gap between the sides to two games. Tigers have now won five in a row and are playing well. BayStars need to be looking for a new management team. Mayumi himself had handled the game well and made all the right decisions in what has been a most satisfactory series.