July 17th Nohmi v Miura - A wild game

A game where pitching failed and where the managers had no control. BayStars showed considerable spirit in fighting back to overturn a six run lead but in the end were just not good enough. Mayumi once again demonstrated that he doesn't know the pitching: Nohmi shouldn't have pitched the sixth; Enokida was left in too long and Katoh was not the pitcher for the ninth in the context of that game. Tigers long ball game worked very well, with Kanemoto, Arai, Fujii and Sekimoto all knocking them over. It was surprising to realise that this was Arai's first Grand Slam in Tigers colours though. Miura does look to be a spent force and Tigers can thank themselves lucky he didn't join them. One surprising thing was that Obana left both Sledge and Harper out of the lineup. This probably had a big impact on Tigers victory because either of them might well have tipped the game. Scores

          1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9  R  H E
Tigers    0 3 0 3 0 0 2 4 0 12 18 0
BayStars  0 0 0 0 3 4 0 0 2  9 13 0

Starting lineups

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

BayStars
1. Ishikawa (Short)
2. Shimozono (Left)
3. Kinjoh (Centre)
4. Murata (Third)
5. Nakamura (First)
6. Yoshimura (Right)
7. Watanabe (Second)
8. Niinuma (Catcher)
9. Miura (Pitcher)

Watching this game was interesting - first TVK up until 9pm, then TBS till 9:30 and finally cable for the latter stages. It took a long time finishing past 10. The ground itself looked full with a massive contingent of BayStars fans, more than I've seen there for a long time. Miura started Tigers first getting Murton to fly out. Hirano hit to right but then Toritani bounced one straight to Miura who was able to throw to second for the double play. Nohmi was brutal with Ishikawa striking him out looking in four pitches. Ishikawa looked a bit shocked by that. Shimozono and Kinjoh lasted longer but both succumbed. In Tigers second both Arai and Brazell grounded out to short and Miura faced Sekimoto. Here we saw the first sign that this was a lesser Miura - he dead balled Sekimoto losing control of his pitch. Kanemoto was next and his second pitch was hammered over the right centre wall for a two run home run 2-0 Tigers. Then came Fujii and he turned one along the third baseline where it just crept inside the foul pole - a solo 3-0 Tigers. The last time he hit more than one home run in a season was back in 2006 when he was playing for Rakuten. To be honest this one was lucky - the wind was blowing quite fiercely at the time and that kept the ball fair. When one of the BayStars did exactly the same thing later in the game, the wind had dropped and the ball was foul. Nohmi struck out looking but Tigers were off to a nice start. BayStars second was quiet and Nohmi struck out Murata and Yoshimura. Murton led off Tigers third with a single to left. He was bunted to second by Hirano - one of the usual unnecessary bunts. Toritani hit to short where Ishikawa couldn't decide what to do. He first turned to third but then switched back and threw to first but too late. Murton was safe on third and Toritani on first. Toritani stole second but Arai hit to short and this time Ishikawa threw safely to first for the second out. Brazell was next and he struck out swinging wasting a good chance. Miura had escaped this time. BayStars first hit came in their third courtesy of Watanabe with a lead off single to centre. Watanabe would have a good game all round. Niinuma (another who would have a good game) flew out but Miura bunted Watanabe to second. However, Ishikawa grounded out to second to end the innings.

The last vestiges of Miura's luck finally ran out in the Tigers fourth. Sekimoto led off with a hit to centre. Kanemoto walked - runners on first and second with no outs. Fujii struck out and Nohmi bunted along the third baseline. Whilst they were waiting for the ball to roll foul (which it resolutely refused to do) Nohmi was able to make first safely to load the bases. Murton hit into left and both Sekimoto and Kanemoto went for home, Kanemoto sliding in nicely before the ball arrived 5-0 Tigers, runners on first and second. This was the end of Miura who just hadn't looked his old self at all. He was replaced by Ohhara who promptly gave up a hit to Hirano to load the bases. Next was Toritani who drove into right bringing home another run 6-0 Tigers, bases loaded. Arai though didn't wait and hit into a double play to end the innings. Still Tigers were out of sight - weren't they? With two out in BayStars fourth Murata walked but then Nakamura flew out to centre to end the innings. Tigers were in control. Brazell led off Tigers fifth with a deep hit to right centre. Yoshimura got under it but dropped the catch. Why this was ruled a two base hit escapes me - it was a clear error. Brazell made third on Sekimoto's ground out and with Kanemoto next things looked set for more runs. It wasn't to be, as Kanemoto swung his bat split and this took the force off the shot making it an easy catch for Watanabe. He then threw sharply to home to catch Brazell off third for the final out. A chance missed. Nohmi started to struggle in the BayStars fifth. Prior to this he had been well in control but suddenly this went. Yoshimura led off the innings with a two base hit to left. Watanabe lined out to Sekimoto and it looked at that time as if Tigers would escape. However, Niinuma suddenly came alive and hit to centre to set up runners on first and third. Harper (pinch hitting for Ohhara) crushed one against the right centre wall - a fine two base hit 6-1 Tigers, runners on second and third. Ishikawa grounded out to second for the second out but this brought home Niinuma 6-2 Tigers, runner on third. Shimozono then got a lucky swing which looped the ball well over Arai and just landed fair bringing in another run 6-3 Tigers, runner on second. Kinjoh drew a walk but the steam was running out of the BayStars and Murata popped one up into foul ground. This still needed a superb piece of fielding from Brazell who had to climb up on the wall and take the ball before it landed in the stands. The innings was over and BayStars had cut the lead by half. Still you expected Tigers to hold this. Sanada started Tigers sixth and having got Fujii and Nohmi gave up a hit to Murton - this one to right. He was replaced by Shinohara who immediately gave up a hit this one a single to centre from Hirano - runners on first and second. However, Toritani hit a foul fly to Murata to end the innings. Nohmi returned for BayStars sixth and you felt that this was a big mistake. Events were to prove this right. Nohmi didn't have the control anymore and walked Nakamura. Then Yoshimura hit to left and BayStars had runners on first and second with no outs. Belatedly Mayumi realised this and replaced Nohmi with Enokida. He should have used a link pitcher in the first place. Enokida wasn't much better and this is an outing he will prefer to forget. He faced Watanabe who hit to right to load the bases. Now things were looking very dangerous. Tigers lead was in danger of disappearing and the BayStars blood was up. Niinuma hit deep into left where Kanemoto wasn't fast enough to take what looked a straightforward fly. Asai would have had that but it landed safely bringing home two runners 6-5 Tigers, runners on first and second. Here is where Enokida should have gone but he didn't. Next was Takeyama (pinch hitter) who of all things bunted. You have the opposition on the ropes and you give them a free out? Still it did move the runners round to second and third. Ishikawa hit to centre bringing in a run 6-6 scores tied, runners on first and third. Then Shimozono walked to load the bases again. Here Mayumi finally acted and replaced Enokida with Watanabe. He should have started the sixth and acted as the link between Nohmi and the relief. Kinjoh hit high and right for a sacrifice fly 7-6 BayStars, runners on first and third. Murata flew out to first in foul ground again. Tigers had blown a six run lead and BayStars could be very, very happy. Mayumi had messed up the sixth in a big way.

BayStars needed to hold their lead and proved to be no more capable of doing that than Tigers. Ejiri was the pitcher for the Tigers seventh and looked permanently surprised. Arai led off and got a nice swing and contact to deposit one into the Tigers Oendan for a solo home run 7-7 scores tied. The lead had not lasted long. Brazell struck out to a fine high pitch from Ejiri who then faced Sekimoto. Sekimoto took his second pitch - a slider deep as well for his first home run of the season and the lead was back with Tigers 8-7. Kanemoto struck out and then Fujii flew out in foul ground. Fukuhara pitched BayStars seventh and he proved to be a sensible choice displaying a cool head. He struck out Nakamura and got Yoshimura to fly out to first. Watanabe hit again but Niinuma flew out to Murton at right and the innings was over. Ushida pitched Tigers eighth and made a mess of things. Nohara (pinch hitter) flew out to right but then Murton hit to centre. Hirano bunted and beat Ushida to first with Murton safe on second. Toritani also hit to centre to load the bases. This brought up Arai again and he hit sweetly to left for his second home run of the night - a grand slam 12-7 Tigers. Brazell lined out to short but Sekimoto hit to centre. Finally, Shunsuke (replacement left) flew out to right but Tigers were back in the drivng seat. By now Mayumi was taking no chances and BayStars eighth was pitched by Kobayashi, undoubtedly the right decision. Fujita (pinch hitter) struck out but Ishikawa hit. However, he didn't go beyond first as first Shimozono flew out to centre and Kinjoh lined out to first to end the innings. Hamilton pitched the Tigers ninth and had a quiet time of it retiring the batters in order. Mayumi then decided he would use Katoh for BayStars ninth. Maybe he felt he could relax and maybe he thought that Katoh knew the BayStars and could be relied on. Whatever the reason it almost backfired. Katoh was not the pitcher for this situation which really needed Fujikawa to ensure the victory. This was a wild game and experience and quality was needed to ensure the victory. Katoh started giving up a lead off single to Murata. He then walked Nakamura to set up runners on first and second with no outs. Here Mayumi had an opportunity to bring Fujikawa on but he left Katoh in. Yoshimura grounded out to short but moved the runners round to second and third. Watanabe struck out - a rare failure for him but Niinuma hit to left along the third baseline and past Arai's desparing dive for a two base hit. Two runs home 12-9 Tigers, runner on second. Finally Mayumi replaced Katoh with Fujikawa who faced Sledge (pinch hitter). Sledge was basically out thought by Fujikawa who struck him out looking to end the game. Tigers victory.

What a game - it had lasted four hours sixteen minutes and been full of action. Fujikawa picked up his 19th save and the victory went to Watanabe. Mayumi's poor handling of the pitching had been rescued again and again by the batting which had continually added more runs. Arai had driven in five, Murton and Kanemoto two apiece. Murton and Hirano had had four hit games and Sekimoto a three hit game. BayStars in the end lacked the firepower whilst Tigers had it. However, it had been close because of Mayumi's failure to handle the pitching - Tigers had blown a six run lead.