August 22nd Futagami v Yoshimi - The finality of failure

Futagami gave more evidence of his unpreparedness for the top team and after being pulled was told he would be deposited in ni-gun for more practice. Once again Tigers 'sink or swim' policy with regard to pitchers had claimed another victim. It would have been nice to pair Futagami with Komiyama or Imanari rather than the pathetic Fujii and see whether his problems were the catcher or himself. Fujii himself came under fire for failing to go for home in the fourth but stopping on third. Shades of Yano in his final year. In another sign of desperation Tigers have brought the young catcher Nakatani up to the top team in the hope that things could change. It's nice to see but one would feel better if one could actually trust the judgment of the management. Scores

         1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R  H E
Dragons  2 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 5 12 0
Tigers   0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 12 0 

Starting lineups

Dragons
1. Ohshima (Centre)
2. Araki (Second)
3. Wada (Left)
4. Morino (Third)
5. Ibata (Short)
6. Yamasaki (First)
7. Tanishige (Catcher)
8. Diaz (Right)
9. Yoshimi (Pitcher)

Tigers
1. Uemoto (Second)
2. Hirano (Centre)
3. Toritani (Short)
4. Ryota Arai (Right)
5. Kanemoto (Left0
6. Takahiro Arai (First)
7. Saka (Third)
8. Fujii (Catcher)
9. Futagami (Pitcher)

Yoshimi wasn't on top form but didn't need to be - the Dragons own the Tigers remember. Futagami to say the least. Ohshima led off with a single. He was bunted to second by Araki in the usual wasted out. Wada managed to ground out to third and things looked rosier... but....Morino drilled the ball into centre bringing in the run 1-0 Dragons, runner on first. This really unsettled Futagami and he gave up a single to Ibata - runners on first and second. Yamasaki singled right bringing in another run 2-0 Dragons runners on first and third. Finally, Tanishige slipped up and grounded out to second. Uemoto started Tigers first dramatically with a two base hit. In the first two Tigers innings Yoshimi only gave up extra base hits. Hirano bunted him to third and then Toritani and Ryota Arai contrived to blow the opportunity. Toritani struck out and Ryota Arai flew out to Tanishige. Dragons second was basically the bottom of the order which Futagami dealt with well enough and Ohshima. He grounded out to first. Yoshimi was still shakey and Kanemoto was able to lead off with a double to left. Takahiro Arai failed to force the ball back past Yoshimi and grounded out. Then Saka hit his first pitch into right centre for a double 2-1 Dragons, runner on second. Fujii grounded out but moved Saka to third. The final batter was Futagami who hit back to Yoshimi to end the innings. Dragons response came the very next innings. The Dragons third saw two outs and then Morino drove a double to right. Ibata took a swing and put the ball into the stands for a two run home run 4-1 Dragons. Yamasaki hit left - another two base but once again Tanishige couldn't convert and grounded out to second again. Dragons had all the runs they needed and had won the game in three innings. Tigers failed to take the chance in their third. Hirano singled with one out and then Toritani hit to first setting up runners on first and second. Ryota Arai struck out looking and Kanemoto grounded out to Yoshimi.

The Dragons fourth saw Futagami face the bottom of the Dragons order and Ohshima again and once again he was able to handle this challenge. No runner reached base. Tigers though tried to get back in the game and with one out in the fourth Saka singled to centre. Fujii hit his first pitch to left setting up runners on first and third. Imanari (pinch hitter and replacement catcher) singled right bringing in the run 4-2 Dragons, runners on first and second. Then Uemoto hit to centre but Fujii stopped on third - bases loaded. Wada felt that Fujii should have gone for home and certainly if he made it, it would have made things interesting. Hirano flew out to left and once again Fujii stayed rooted to third. Finally, Toritani grounded out to second. Tigers do need to take their chances and Fujii should be trying harder. Cheng took over for Dragons fifth pitching to Imanari. He started by walking Araki trying hard to figure out Imanari's calls. Wada grounded out and then Morino singled right - runners on first and third. Ibata hit a grounder to third and Ryota Arai locked Araki on third before throwing to first for the out - runners on second and third. This time Yamasaki hit to short for the final out and the innings was over. After struggling through the first four innings, Yoshimi had an easy time in Tigers fifth. The three batters he faced all succumbing easily enough. Cheng returned for Dragons sixth and had worked out his signals with Imanari retiring the batters in order. Yoshimi was now much more comfortable as well and had weathered the storm. He retired the three Tigers batters he faced in the sixth as well. The game was settling into a familiar pattern.

Enokida took over the pitching duties for Dragons seventh. He also struggled with Imanari and with his nerves. He struck out Ohshima but then Araki singled to centre. Wada, who was having a quiet day, flew out to right but Morino walked. Then Ibata walked - bases loaded. Yamasaki hit to left but could only fly out and Enokida had survived. Yoshimi also struggled in Tigers seventh. With one out Hirano singled again. Toritani hit left - a double which set up runners on second and third. A great chance for Tigers. Ryota Arai grounded out to third which kept the runners locked and then Hiyama (pinch hitter) grounded out to second to end the innings. Tsuru pitched Dragons eighth With one out Hirata (replacement right) singled right. As Nomoto (pinch hitter) struck out Hirata stole second. Ohshima walked but Araki couldn't convert and the innings was over. Tajima took over for Tigers eighth from Yoshimi who hadn't been at his best but had always had that little extra to get out of the binds he got into. He gave up a single to Takahiro Arai who was immediately forced out by Saka's double play. Then Yamato (replacment centre Hirano having moved over to right) lined out to second to end the innings. Dragons weren't finished though and Tsutsui was the victim in the ninth. Wada having been quiet all night suddenly came to life and drove a double into right centre. Morino grounded out to first taking Wada to third and then Ibata supplied the single to bring the runner home 5-2 Dragons, runner on first. Naohisa Donue (replacement third) flew out and then Tanishige struck out swinging. Iwase pitched Tigers ninth and as is usual with Tigers retired the batters in order to and the game. Dragons victory.

Using Imanari as replacement catcher was cruely exposed this game. He hadn't done well with any of the relief and one understands why the Fighters were willing to sell him. Tigers do need to do something about their catching issues - something that doesn't involve Fujii or Imanari. The action now moves to Kurashiki for the final game of the series which Tigers are in with a chance of winning. However, they really do need to improve their play against the Dragons. They haven't played well against the Nagoya outfit for years and this does need to change. Tigers should be able to use their talent in a more productive way.