July 13th Tsuru v Utsumi - Enokida earns his spurs

It's clear that Tsuru will need further work before he's really ready for the top team. He gets nervous and suffers control problems which leave him vulnerable. Most of the time it is in situations that aren't that serious - a runner on first seems to worry him. I see him very much as a Nohmi like figure. With careful work and time he will be as good a pitcher as he has some really stunning stuff. I am looking forward to seeing Cheng in the rotation - this has been a long time coming and he should slot in instead of Tsuru. Enokida was impressive last night. He not only saved Tsuru's bacon but got himself into trouble and got out of it again. Scores

        1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9  R H E
Giants  0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0  1 6 0
Tigers  0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1x 2 9 0

Starting lineups

Giants
1. Sakamoto (Short)
2. Takahashi (Right)
3. Chono (Centre)
4. Ramirez (Left)
5. Abe (Catcher)
6. Fields (Third)
7. Kamei (First)
8. Fujimura (Second)
9. Utsumi (Pitcher)

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

This was one of those games where you expected Utsumi to disintegrate but he didn't. Giants failed to take advantage of their chances (which makes a change to saying Tigers failed to take theirs) and were unable to break down a tough Tigers side. Tsuru started well and retired the Giants batters in order. Hirano led off Tigers first by hitting the first pitch to right for a single. Then it was Sekimoto's turn to bunt but he made a mess of this - it looked like he didn't really want to bunt at all. Anyway, he struck out swinging and Hirano went for second. This was a foolish move, Abe let fly a cannonball of a throw and Hirano was well out. Poor play by the Tigers in attempting a steal at that time - Giants were ready for it. Toritani hit to right and the innings was over. Tsuru was even better in the Giants second and the batters basically hit him where he wanted, that is to fielders. Three batters and three outs. Murton struck out swinging to start Tigers second. Brazell grounded out to second and then Arai hit along the line to Fields. Fields had a torrid game at third and couldn't do anything about this one. He positioned himself well behind the base but the ball hit the sack and bounced safely over him where it continued its way into the corner - a two base hit. Kanemoto followed and hit a loose pitch deep to centre for a very nice double 1-0 Tigers, runner on second. Fujii hit to left but Kanemoto stopped on third and here it might have been a good idea to chance Ramirez's arm. He was slow to the pick up. The final batter of the innings was Tsuru who grounded out to second. Giants responded immediately in their third with Kamei hitting to right. Fujimura then flew out to Fujii but Utsumi bunted Kamei second. Sakamoto walked and then Takahashi who would beat Tsuru later in the game swung and launched the ball high to where Fujii was waiting when it came down. The innings was over. Tigers third was quiet with Sekimoto collecting his second strike out - a particularly inept example of judging the ball. Sekimoto didn't have a good game with the bat.

The innings were rolling around rapidly. Giants fourth was quickly over with the batters falling in order. Tigers fourth saw Murton hit a two base to left. This was a great chance but no one did anything with Kanemoto striking out to end the innings. Giants fifth was three quick ground outs. In Tigers fifth Hirano hit with two out and then proceeded to mess things up. Sekimoto was the batter and Hirano drifted too far off the plate. Utsumi's throw was good and he was picked off before he could touch base. Not a good piece of work. Giants sixth started quietly. Utsumi struck out but then Sakamoto hit to right. In the last two at bats Sakamoto had managed to work the count full and get on base. This wasn't in itself a problem but Tsuru went to pieces. Takahashi battled for a while and then steered the ball expertly and nicely into the left corner for a two base. Kanemoto went to field and here we saw the folly of using him as a starting player. He was slow and fumbled the ball off the fence before putting in a weak throw. It was almost a formality for Sakamoto to race round the bases for the tying run 1-1 scores tied, runner on second. Chono hit to right but Ohmura (pinch running for Takahashi) stopped on third and Giants had runners on the corners. Mayumi acted quickly and rightly and pulled Tsuru before he could do any more damage replacing him with Enokida. Enokida started badly dead balling Ramirez - bases loaded with still two outs needed. Abe worked the count full before hitting to Brazell at first. A 3-2-3 double play, just what was needed and Tigers had escaped. Giants had wasted a really big chance. Tsuru was delighted and looked very relieved. Tigers sixth was by contrast an anticlimax, The batters fell in order with Murton striking out to end the innings. The rumours are that he will move back to No. 1 very soon.

Enokida returned for Giants seventh and unfortunately soon ran into a mess. Fields led off the innings with a hit. Kamei grounded out to Enokida but the double play didn't come off and he was safe on first. Fujimura hit to centre and Giants had runners on first and second. Hara pulled Utsumi and sent Tani to pinch hit for him. Here Kamei and Fujimura pulled off a double steal to put runners on second and third. This was very neatly done and Tigers were totally out-manoeuvered by the play. Enokida was in a bind and with the count at 2-2 he dropped one low which Tani swung at. The ball cannoned off Fujii and flew to one side and both runners were home. It would have been a crushing blow but the umpire ruled that the ball was dead. As Tani had swung and missed the ball it was a third strike. The ball was therefore dead before the runners started to advance and they couldn't run. Both Giants had to return to their bases but it was nice to see the umpires ruling against the Giants for a change. A chat followed and it was decided to deliberately walk Sakamoto to load the bases. This brought up Ohmura who struck out looking to end the innings. Yamaguchi pitched Tigers seventh and faced Brazell. He was a bit wild with an inside pitch and hit Brazell very painfully in his back. This time Brazell didn't charge the mound but as the hit was very painful it would have been very difficult. Brazell was able to make second on Kanemoto's ground out but got no further and the innings finished scoreless. Giants eighth saw Kobayashi at his best. Chono grounded out to Brazell, non the worse for his dead ball. Then Ramirez struck out. Abe was next and Kobayashi's first three pitches were balls. This looked worrying but the next three pitches were strikes with the final being a superb pitch to end the innings. Yamaguchi started by striking out Asai (replacement left) but then Hirano hit to third. Fields dived but couldn't take and HIrano was once again on base. He stayed on first though as Uemoto (replacement second) and Toritani both failed. Fujikawa pitched the Giants ninth - not a save but still vital. He retired the batters in order striking out Fields and getting Kamei and Fujimura to fly out to Arai in foul ground. Tigers ninth and Tohno's first shot at being a reliever. Murton hit to right and was pinch run for by Shibata. This went up and stayed up for a long time but landed just in front of right. Brazell also hit to right - into the corner, runners on second and third. Brazell was replaced by Ryota Arai. No outs and Takahiro Arai next, Giants decided to deliberately walk Arai to load the bases. A high risk strategy and one that would backfire. Hiyama (pinch hitter) followed. He knew what he needed to do and when he got the right pitch hit deep to right. Ohmura took the catch and threw well but Shibata was safely home 2-1 Tigers sayonara victory.

Tigers had done well - particularly Enokida. He had had a bit of luck but had shown real steel and application and some nice pitching. Tsuru needs more work before he can pitch reliably but is an exciting prospect. Fujikawa picked up the win but one must question the continued playing of Kanemoto. Sure he drove in a run but his poor fielding wiped that out. The two base was nice but the rest of his batting not so inspiring. The more I see of Asai the more I think he would be better as the regular starting left.