April 25th Enokida v Iwata - Desperate measures

Whilst Enokida's first encounter with the Dragons resulted in a loss due to Ryota Arai messing up this game was his own fault. He was in fact pretty wild and despite giving up only one hit recorded five walks and a dead ball. The fact that Dragons could only manage to score one run speaks volumes. However, we have to consider the psychological hold Dragons have over Tigers. Tigers come to Nagoya believing they will lose and it becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. There is no reason for Tigers to lose as they do but it happens. Against a pitcher making his first start of the season Tigers should have done better but they couldn't manage it despite racking up the hits (seven). Tigers had a great effort from Fukudome but nothing from anyone else. The players need to step up their game considerably as do the management. Wada and his group of clowns are responsible for preparing the team for action but don't seem to have the capability. Scores

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

Starting Lineups

Tigers
1. Nishioka (Second)
2. Yamato (Centre)
3. Toritani (Short)
4. Murton (Left)
5. Fukudome (Right)
6. Takahiro Arai (First)
7. Ryota Arai (Third)
8. Hidaka (Catcher)
9. Enokida (Pitcher)

Dragons
1. Ohshima (Centre)
2. Araki (Second)
3. Luna (Third)
4. Wada (Left)
5. Ibata (Short)
6. Clark (First)
7. Tanishige (Catcher)
8. Fujii (Right)
9. Iwata (Pitcher)

Tigers first started nicely with Iwata working a walk. This produced the usual stupid bunt from Yamato moving Nishioka to second. Nishioka then came up with a brilliant steal taking third very nicely. Toritani though managed to waste this opportunity and strike out swinging. Then Murton hit to centre and flew out to end the innings. Enokida's first pitch was dire, dead balling Ohshima - runner on first. Araki grounded out to short which took Ohshima to second and then Luna walked. Wada struck out looking but Enokida wasn't finished and walked Ibata to load the bases. Finally Clark grounded out to second to end the innings to the relief of all in the Tigers camp. Fukudome led off Tigers second singling nicely. Arai struck out swinging and Ryota flew out. Hidaka cracked one into centre - runners on first and third. However, the next batter was Enokida and of course he flew out to end the innings scoreless. Enokida's second innings was much better than the first. He seemed to have conquered his nerves and retired the batters in order, striking out both Fujii and Iwata looking. Tigers third saw the batters fall in order. Toritani grounding out as the last batter. Dragons third was also quiet - everyone being induced to ground out to short and third.

Tigers fourth was also quiet. The batters were having difficulty in mastering the pitchers and getting on base. Dragons fourth saw Wada manage to lead off with a walk. Then Ibata went for a bunt which Enokida picked up and threw. It bounced of Wada's head and was recorded as a fielders choice setting up runners on first and second. Clark and Tanishige struck out and as Tanishige swung Wada went for third. With Fujii this would have succeeded but not with Hidaka who threw to third for the touch out. Tigers fifth looked to be heading the way of the fourth with two out but then Enokida singled to centre. Nishioka followed that up with a drive into centre and Tigers had runners on first and second. However, Yamato managed to mess things up and fly out to Iwata to and the danger. No doubt to return the favour Enokida walked Iwata with one out in Dragons fifth. Seriously though this was poor pitching. Ohshima grounded out to Toritani forcing out Iwata. Then Ohshima stole second. Enokida's poor pitching continued with a wild pitch taking Ohshima to third. This was all the invitation Araki needed and he hit into left field bringing in the runner 1-0 Dragons, runner on first. Luna worked his second walk of the game to set up runners on first and second with one out but Morino (pinch hitter and replacement first) thankfully hit into a double play to end the innings. Tigers needed to bounce back but the Dragons are past masters at holding onto slender leads. Tigers clean up failed miserably to get on base or do anything and the innings ended with Fukudome striking out. Dragons sixth was also quiet and the batters fell in order. Enokida was pitching much more assuredly and you thought was - why didn't he do that earlier.

Tigers seventh was another disappointment with the batters falling in order yet again. They seemed unable to deal with Iwata who was pitching comfortably by now. Katoh took over for Dragons seventh, Enokida having thrown a lot of pitches in his session. He retired the batters with ease. Iwata was replaced by Tajima for Tigers eighth. We saw Imanari as a pinch hitter again and he struck out swinging. Nishioka though worked a walk - a chance for Tigers. Yamato hit to second but Nishioka was able to take the base safely. Toritani walked but Murton failed hitting a straightforward grounder to short for the final out of the innings. Tsuru replaced Katoh on the mound. He dismissed the first two batters but then gave up a single to right to Morino. Ibata was next and he flew out to right in foul ground - more nice work from Fukudome. Fukudome continued this in the Tigers ninth. The pitcher was Iwase of course and Fukudome was lead off. Iwase was trying to tempt Fukudome with high pitches but Fukudome was wise to that and singled nicely off his fifth pitch. He was pinch run for by Tagami who even though Fukudome is fast; is faster. Arai struck out looking and then Ryota singled left. This was not one of Iwase's better innings. Tigers had runners on first and second. Sekimoto (pinch hitter) was next and he also singled left. It was a bit too close in (replacement left) but Tagami went for home anyway. The throw was perfect though and Tagami was tagged out at the plate. Tigers still had runners on first and second; Saka pinch running for Ryota and Shunsuke pinch running for Sekimoto. Wada decided to use Fujii as a pinch hitter - not a bad decision given how well Fujii has been hitting. However, this time he was not the equal of Iwase and grounded out to second to end the game. Dragons victory.

Tigers have now lost both series against the Dragons when they should really be winning them. Dragons had all of two hits this game and one can't help feeling that Tigers should have made more of the ninth innings. Iwase is fading but like a lot of the Dragons smoke and mirrors he can still bedazzle the Tigers batters enough. One can't help thinking that a different starting catcher would have made a difference and one thinks of last season's series victory at Nagoya Dome with Iwamoto and Komiyama. Interesting how Iwamoto despite his brilliant start doesn't figure in Tigers plans. The coaches do have a propensity to screw up young pitchers.