October 4th - Akiyama v Ishikawa - A Fujii surprise

Komiyama took a rest today and Fujii was the catcher. In a surprising turn of events he drove in three runs. Akiyama was the starting pitcher and didn't prosper - one wonders why Tigers pitchers regress? Coaching perhaps or the lack of any ability in that area. Whilst Mayumi will be manager to the end of the season the front office are keeping options open for next season. This doesn't mean that they'll change but they are very aware of fan anger. Though to assauge that anger they are going to have to dump Mayumi - getting rid of a few coaches won't work. Scores

          1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R  H E
Swallows  0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 3  8 1
Tigers    0 2 0 3 3 1 0 0 X 9 14 0

Starting lineups

Swallows
1. Aoki (Centre)
2. Fukuuchi (Left)
3. Kawabata (Short)
4. Hatakeyama (First)
5. Balentien (Right)
6. Miyamoto (Third)
7. Tanaka (Second)
8. Aikawa (Catcher)
9. Ishikawa (Pitcher)

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

This series is played in the confines of Kyocera Dome - cordially hated by all Tigers fans (those that do like it are generally considered a bit strange). Swallows don't seem to like the dump either and don't really perform well here. For some reason Fujii loves the place but he is also strange. The Swallows first started with a shaky Akiyama who with one out gave up a hit to Fukuuchi. Fukuuchi tried to steal second but was thrown out not that it mattered as Akiyama walked Kawabata in four. Actually pairing Akiyama with Fujii was always a risk. The final batter of the innings was Hatakeyama who flew out. Hirano led off Tigers first with a single. He was bunted to second by Yamato and made third on Toritani's ground out but Arai was in ground out mode and the innings was over with no run. Balentien led off Swallow second with a hit to left. Then Miyamoto hit to centre and Swallows had runners on first and second. Next was Tanaka who bunted the runners round to second and third. Moving him from second to seventh seems only to be so he can bunt lower down the order. Akiyama hit a sacrifice fly to right 1-0 Swallows, runner on third but then Ishikawa walked. This wasn't the best thing to do in the circumstances with Aoki next. He swung too soon and flew out to short. Swallows had rather made a pigs ear of that innings. Tigers were much better in their second. Brazell flew out but Murton hit to left. Kanemoto hit right and Murton made third - Tigers had runners on first and third with one out. Fujii hit his first pitch into right field bringing in a run 1-1 scores tied, runners on first and third. Then Akiyama grounded out to Ishikawa who tried to turn a double play but failed and Kanemoto was safely home 2-1 Tigers. Finally Hirano grounded out to short but Tigers had done well. Akiyama though didn't settle and after giving the Tigers the lead then gave it away next innings. He walked Kawabata with one out and then gave up a single to Hatakeyama. This enabled Kawabata to reach third. Nishimura took over at this point and Balentien banged the second sacrifice fly of Swallows evening to right 2-2 scores tied. Hatakeyama was able to make second but Miyamoto grounded out to second to end the innings. This was much better handled. Tigers third was depressing with both Toritani and Arai striking out swinging. Needless to say no score resulted.

Nishimura though did well in Swallows fourth and retired the batters in order. Ishikawa came unglued in Tigers fourth. Facing Brazell he left one for the big man to hit and Brazell hit deep and far for a solo home run 3-2 Tigers. Murton flew out to centre but Kanemoto hit to centre. Then Fujii hit right on a full count - he was having a game to remember, Tigers had runners on first and third. Ishikawa was also in a similar situation but for different reasons and he was replaced by Hashimoto at this point. This didn't help Swallows. Sekimoto (pinch hitter) was the first batter he faced and the latter walked to load the bases. Hirano singled to centre bringing in a run 4-2 Tigers, bases loaded. Then Yamato hit deep for the sacrifice fly 5-2 Tigers, runners on first and third. Hashimoto went to be replaced by Kato who got Toritani to ground out to first to end the innings. Tsutsui pitched Swallows fifth and retired the batters in order. Swallows run of bad fortune continued in Tigers fifth. If they thought Tigers were going to take their foot of the Swallows necks they were mistaken. Arai flew out to left but Brazell walked. Then Murton walked - runners on first and second. Kanemoto hit to right again and loaded the bases. Fujii hit to centre on a full count and both Brazell and Murton were home 7-2 Tigers, runners on first and third. Matsui replaced Kato and Shunsuke (pinch hitter) hit to left bringing in another run 8-2 Tigers, runners on first and second. Hirano grounded out which took Fujii to third and forced out Shunsuke with Yamato finally striking out to end the innings. Tigers were out of sight by now. Watanabe pitched Swallows sixth and with two out gave up a hit to Miyamoto. He was pinch run for by Morioka but this was a forlorn hope as Watanabe persuaded Tanaka to ground out and end the innings. Swallows pain continued in the Tigers sixth. Toritani walked and Arai hit to centre. This put runners on first and third with no outs. For once Tigers base running was good. Brazell hit into a 4-6-3 double play but Toritani was home 9-2 Tigers. Murton hit left and stole second as Swallows struggled to seize the initiative. Shibata (pinch hitter) hit to short to set up runners on first and third but this time Fujii grounded out to end the innings.

Fujihara was the pitcher for Swallows seventh and started with a hit to Aikawa. He fell to an Iihara (pinch hitter) double play and then Aoki grounded out to short to end the innings. Ichiba pitched Tigers seventh and was successful in retiring the batters in order. Swallows eighth was quiet and the game moved to its inevitable conclusion. Toritani led off Tigers eighth with a walk but fell to an Arai double play. Then Shimizu (pinch hitter) struck out swinging. Shimizu would replaced Fujii as catcher - more of Mayumi's idiocy. Basically he will not use Kanoh and refuses to do so unless really pressed. This alone is a reason for sacking him as non of the players he uses now can carry a team through a season. Possibly, the use of Shimizu was a big factor in the run the Swallows would score in the ninth. Kobayashi was the pitcher and he isn't doing well anyway. With one out he walked Morioka. Tanaka grounded out to third but the whilst the force out worked the double play didn't. Nakamura (replacement centre) hit to left to set up runners on first and second and then Yuichi (hit to right) bringing in a consolation run 9-3 Tigers, runners on first and third. Finally, Aoki flew out to right to end the game. Tigers victory.

Tigers had won because Swallows middle relief had fallen apart at the right moment. The collapse was obvious - Fuji driving in three runs is not a normal occurence. In fact its extremely unusual. The win went to Nishimura though not Akiyama who isn't pitching well at all on his return. Of the current crop of catchers Komiyama is by far the best but still not very good. Until Mayumi goes we will have to put up with second rate catchers and no chance of victory.