July 31st Messenger v Miura - Some fine pitching

Johjima news - he is going to travel to the US for examination by the experts there. Both his knee and elbow are giving him trouble and he isn't convinced by the remedies so far proposed in Japan which don't seem to be having the desired effect. Surgery could be one option and might even be season ending in which case Johjima would play again next season. This would be a huge blow to Tigers prospects with Fujii as main catcher. Enokida is also being told to rest his arm and has been forbidden to throw anything for three days - a total rest. There is no news of when he will be back in the top team but it would be a real tragedy if such a young pitcher is already finished because of careless over-pitching.
As for the game Tigers needed to restore some pride and stay ahead of the BayStars. BayStars wanted to win the season but in the end couldn't as both sides kept things tight. Miura was much improved on his previous outing but was out pitched by Messenger who was brilliant. The result was a win for the Tigers which once again puts them within spitting distance of .500. Scores

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

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

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. Messenger (Pitcher)

BayStars first started with a walk to Shimozono as Messenger sprayed the ball all over the place. This wasn't what was expected but things rapidly settled down after that. Ishikawa bunted Shimozono to second and then Messenger struck out Sledge. Next was Murata who grounded out to the restored Sekimoto to end the innings. Miura started Tigers first by getting Murton to ground out but then HIrano hit to first and was able to beat the throw to reach base safely. Toritani's ground out to Watanabe took Hirano to second and then Arai hit left bringing in the run 1-0 Tigers, runner on first. Brazell struck out swinging but Tigers had drawn first blood. Messenger was much improved in the second finding the zone with confidence and retiring the batters in order. Likewise Miura was much improved over his first but was using more pitches than Messenger. Tigers second was quiet. Messenger struck out the last two of the bottom of BayStars order in the third getting the final out, Shimozono, with a ground out. Messenger led off Tigers third and struck out but then Murton hit to centre. Hirano hit to right to set up runners on first and third and then Toritani hit left bringing in another run 2-0 Tigers, runner on first. Arai walked to load the bases and it looked like a decisive innings was in the offing. Instead Brazell hit into a double play to end the innings and blow the opportunity. Miura had escaped a potentially very damaging situation and kept BayStars in with a chance.

For this, though they needed to get runners on and this would prove difficult. Messenger did walk Ishikawa in the fourth. He was thrown out trying to steal second and Murata ended the innings swinging too soon and flying out to Toritani. Sekimoto worked a walk to lead off Tigers fourth. Kanemoto flew out to right and then Fujii hit into a double play and that innings was over. BayStars best chance came in their fifth. Harper hammered a two base to lead the innings off. Kinjoh grounded out to first but moved Harper round and the scoring chance was on. However, Watanabe hit straight to Sekimoto who locked Harper on third before throwing to first for the second out. Niinuma was next and he was deliberately walked to get at Miura for the final out. This was confident stuff and Miura flew out to centre to end the innings. BayStars had wasted a nice chance. Tigers then did the same - with two out Hirano had his third hit of the game. He stole second and Toritani walked which brought up Arai. Arai tried to hit right but flew out and the innings was over. BayStars sixth was quiet as the batters fell in order. Brazell led Tigers sixth hitting to first who messed it up for an error. With one out Kanemoto grounded out to first but Brazell made second. Still two outs and with Messenger the batter after Fujii it was obvious that the Tigers catcher would be deliberately walked. So it was and Messenger struck out looking to end the innings.

Messenger returned for BayStars seventh having thrown 81 pitches. He should have had the capacity for another innings. Things looked worrying when Ishikawa led off the innings with a single to right but Messenger displayed really good stuff. He struck out Sledge, Murata and Harper in succession to end the innings and preserve his two run lead and end with a bang. He had walked three and given up two hits on 96 pitches - a fine piece of work. Miura didn't return for Tigers seventh. He had struggled through his six innings and despite being much improved on his last outing against the Tigers hadn't really been in control. He had thrown 124 pitches and wouldn't have had another innings in him. Shinohara pitched Tigers seventh instead and retired Tigers batters in order. For BayStars eighth was saw Kobayashi who started by walking Fujita (pinch hitter and replacement short). A wild pitch took Fujita to second and then Nakamura grounded out to second. This moved Fujita to third and set up a scoring chance for the BayStars with only one out down. Kobayashi then walked Shimozono to set up the double play - a bold tactic but one that worked. Ishikawa hit to first and the double play was executed smoothly. A nice piece of pitching and risk taking. Sanada pitched Tigers eighth and had an easy job of it retiring the batters in order. BayStars ninth was pitched by Kyuji who started by striking out Sledge. He then got Murata to swing too soon again and fly out to short and finally, Harper grounded out to second to end the game. Tigers victory.

BayStars had had their chances but had been unable to execute them. Tigers had managed to get the runs and so won the game and preserved a series lead over the BayStars. Shi no rodo starts this week and one hopes that Tigers can play well enough to take a winning record out of this ordeal. However, with Mayumi in charge this isn't likely. Messenger picked up his seventh victory of the season and like Standridge will be asked back for next season. He is maturing well and today he wasn't over-pitched and finished well. Kyuji picked up his 21st save and this is the fifth year in a row that he has reached over 20 saves. The victory can be described as workmanlike but Tigers will need a lot more of these if they are to maintain their momentum.