May 25th Standridge v Yoshimi - To be expected

Marines were always going to be a difficult proposition and with Tigers struggling the result wasn't really a surprise. At least they started to score again but the pitching didn't shine, Standridge and Kubota were not particularly good. Kubota seems to be demoralised but one can say that this is the general mood of the side as a whole. Scores

         1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R  H E
Marines  0 1 0 0 2 0 2 0 0 5 10 0
Tigers   1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 2  7 1

Starting lineups

Marines
1. Okada (Centre)
2. Takahama (Short)
3. Iguchi (Second)
4. Fukuura (First)
5. Satozaki (Catcher)
6. Kiyota (Right)
7. Imae (Third)
8. Ishimine (Left)
9. Yoshimi (Pitcher)

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

Standridge got out of Marines first rather well despite using a lot of pitches and walking Iguchi with two outs. Still no score resulted. Tigers start was surprising - with two outs Murton hit a two base to left. Arai was next and drove into centre with Murton making home 1-0 Tigers, runner on first. Kanemoto hit a single to set up runners on first and second but Johjima could only ground out. Unfortunately, as he has done all season Standridge failed to hold the lead and gave up runs immediately. He does seem to have problems with the lower end of the batting order. He got the first two outs in Marines second but then gave up a a two base hit to right to Imae. Ishimine's second pitch was not on target and was hit nicely to left where Kenemoto had to chase it. Imae used time productively and was easily home 1-1 scores tied, runner on second. Finally, Standridge struck out Yoshimi to end the innings but Tigers had said goodbye to the lead. Tigers second was quiet with the batters doing nothing. With parity reestablished, Okada led off the Marines third with a hit to left. Takahama bunted him to second but Iguchi went for a big one and flew out. Fukuura worked the count full and walked. Satozaki was next but he could only ground out to second and Tigers had escaped without damage this time. Tigers third saw the batters fall in order but one can't say that Yoshimi was pitching well - in fact he was just as bad as Standridge, it's just that the Tigers batters were not batting well.

Kiyota led off Marines fourth by grounding out to Arai who messed it up for an error - runner on second. Imae flew out in foul ground which brought up Ishimine again. He couldn't repeat his hit of the second and grounded out which did take Kiyota to third. However, the final batter was Yoshimi who did the decent thing and was the third out to end the innings. Tigers 4, 5, 6 went down in order in their fourth innings. The score was still level but Marines had left runners on base every innings of the game so far and with this profligacy it was surely only a matter of time before they converted. This was to happen in their fifth. Okada led off with a hit to right. He was bunted to second by Takahama and then Iguchi hit to centre. Okada used his pace to reach home 2-1 Marines, runner on first. Fukuura hit to right as Marines took full advantage of Standridge's pitching problems - runners on first and third. Satozaki then hit to centre 3-1 Marines, runners on first and second. Kiyota flew out and Imae grounded out but Marines were now in control. This almost woke Tigers up - almost. Brazell led off with a hit and was bunted to second by Uemoto. It really is pointless to continually use the bunt in these situations. The traditional approach employed by Mayumi merely wastes an out. Sekimoto (pinch hitter) walked and Tigers had runners on first and second. The double play was set up but it came in an unconventional way with Hirano flying out to left and Brazell being caught off base for the final out. With Standridge having been pinch hit for Kubota took the mound for Marines sixth. He was effective retiring the batters in order - the first innings the Tigers had pitched without allowing a runner on base. Tigers sixth saw the first two outs fall then Yoshimi walked Arai. A wild pitch took him to second and Kanemoto hit to short. Both runners were able to beat the throw and the corners were occupied. This time Johjima hit nicely into left field bringing home the runner 3-2 Marines, runners on first and second. Yoshimi walked Brazell to load the bases and this was the end of his stint. He was replaced by Itoh who faced Uemoto. Uemoto struck out swinging and the innings was over.

Kubota returned for Marines seventh which was a big mistake by Mayumi and more to do with a dearth of ideas than any understanding of strategy. It would have been better to bring in a different pitcher rather than try and over pitch Kubota. Takahama led off the innings with a two base and here Mayumi should have switched pitchers but he has never been able to judge this aspect of the game. Iguchi grounded out and then Fukuura was deliberately walked to set up the double play. Satozaki also struck out but then Kiyota walked to load the bases. Imae swung at his first pitch and drove it into left for a timely hit 4-2 Marines, bases loaded. Once again a good time to replace Kubota but he was left in and walked Ishimine - oshidashi 5-2 Marines, bases loaded. Finally, Itoh struck out looking to end the innings. Kubota had thrown 48 pitches and shouldn't have been asked to pitch the seventh anyway. It is treatment like this which destroys relievers confidence and renders them ineffective. Very poor management from Mayumi. Tigers seventh was pitched by Itoh who started the innings by walking Toritani (pinch hitter). This stroke of luck was immediately squandered by a Hirano double play. Asai (replacement left) then grounded out to end the innings. Wakatake pitched the Marines eighth and walked Okada with no outs. The next three batters couldn't move him off first though and the score stayed unchanged. Uchi took over from Itoh for Tigers eighth - no expecting pitchers to go too long here. Tigers eighth was also quiet - batters falling in order and Tigers chances were running out. Wakatake also pitched Marines ninth and gave up a lead off hit to Satozaki. He was bunted to second by Kiyota and things looked dangerous again. Imae hit to centre and some smart work by Shibata (replacement centre) saw Satozaki caught off second for the final out. Yabuta took Tigers ninth and struck out Johjima and Brazell before giving up a hit to Lin (pinch hitter). Next was Hiyama (pinch hitter) who grounded out to end the game. Marines victory.

Once they took the lead the Marines victory was never in doubt. Tigers had pitched poorly and batted even less impressively. Marines had wasted a lot of chances but had kept on generating them and had been able to take advantage for their first inter league win. Mayumi had once again screwed up by trying to pitch his relief too long. His general incompetence in this area is most trying. Kubota should not have pitched two innings but only one. Likewise with Wakatake who escaped damage more by luck than design.