July 6th Enokida v Ohtake - We almost blow it

Once again Carp paid for their inability to drive in runs even though Tigers tried hard to help them. Tigers did suffer the loss of Hidaka in the sixth innings which one doesn't feel to disappointed about - he really is mediocre. His mode of going summed up that perfectly - haven't he and Ryota sorted out calls yet? Doesn't anyone shout 'mine' when going for a ball? This brought Fujii on and whilst usually a better catcher he was abysmal and turned a comfortable victory into a nail biter. Still Tigers held on but remember this is just the Carp - if it was the Giants one would be more impressed. Scores

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

Starting Lineups

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

Carp
1. Lewis (Left)
2. Kikuchi (Second)
3. Maru (Centre)
4. Eldred (First)
5. Hirose (Right)
6. Soyogi (Short)
7. Dobayashi (Third)
8. Ishihara (Catcher)
9. Ohtake (Pitcher)

Nishioka was out of the side again because he was still feeling poorly and so Saka led off the game with an effective single. Wada then had Yamato bunt Saka to second - the kind of waste of an out and inept, unimaginative management that makes one want to tear ones hair out in frustration and rarely results in a score. This was the case this innings as Toritani struck out swinging and Murton hit his first pitch to left for a fly out to end the innings. Enokida started nicely and with nice pitching retired the first three Carp batters in order. Arai grounded out to third to start Tigers second but then Imanari singled. However, Tigers didn't enjoy this state for long as Ryota managed to hit into a double play which put the innings to bed. Carp picked up their first base runner in their second - a two out walk to Soyogi. Dobayashi was next but the days when he was a terror to the Tigers pitchers are long gone and he hit right flying out into the glove of Imanari and ending the chance. Tigers third was quiet ending with Saka striking out swinging. Likewise Carp's third which also ended on a strike out - that of Lewis who was fooled by a nice pitch and went looking.

Tigers fourth saw everyone fly out with Yamato hitting to centre and Toritani and Murton going right. Ohtake was holding his own well. Enokida engineered another strike out looking in Carp's fourth with Maru being the victim but no one reached base and the game remained tied at 0-0. It was hot out there and this was probably a major factor in the torpor of the game. Playing in conditions of 35 degrees with humidity around 80% would be enough to sap anyone's strength. Tigers fifth saw more signs of life in the Tigers offense though. With one out Imanari singled again. He is enjoying his reprieve from the grave (failed catcher but reborn as right fielder) though for how long? Ryota grounded out to third forcing out Imanari and then Hidaka walked setting up runners on first and second. Of course with Enokida next a score wasn't likely to result and the pitcher grounded out to second ending the innings. Carp's fifth saw their first hit - the Enokida Hidaka pairing having functioned extremely efficiently. This was a one out single to Soyogi. Dobayashi struck out swinging and then Ishihara grounded out. Soyogi hadn't shifted from first. Tigers sixth was quiet and one wondered how long before Tigers would actually do something. Carp's sixth started nicely. Ohtake struck out swinging. Lewis was next and skied the ball into foul ground where both Ryota and Hidaka went for it colliding heavily and missing the catch. Ryota was OK but Hidaka had to be replaced by Fujii. Lewis also struck and then Kikuchi singled. Maru hit a nice grounder to second. A good way to end Enokida's session but Fujii hadn't looked particularly good as a replacement for Hidaka.

Finally in Tigers seventh Ohtake cracked. Murton grounded out but then Arai worked a walk. Imanari flew out which brought up Ryota who also worked a walk. Tigers had runners on first and second but with two outs things didn't look promising. However, as happens so often, the third out is the most difficult to get. This was the case for Carp and Fujii singled left to load the bases. Nishioka (pinch hitter) was next and he walked - oshidashi 1-0 Tigers bases loaded. Saka followed and stroked the ball left which brought home Ryota and Fujii 3-0 Tigers, runners on first and third. Finally Yamato hit weakly back to Ohtake for the final out. Having seized a nice lead at a psychologically important moment one would expect Tigers to hold it. That they did but not with any great skill or aptitude. Andoh took over the pitching and he is normally a very reliable pitcher in this sort of situation but Fujii wasn't calling well and Tigers paid for it. Eldred stuck out swinging but then Hirose singled. Soyogi hit right and then was able to take second as Tigers managed to make a mess of things in the field. Hirose was on third. Next was Dobayashi who hit left and plated both runners 3-2 Tigers, runner on first. Tigers and Fujii in particular needed to do something to redeem the pigs ear they had made of things and this came in a rare good throw to second from Fujii catching Dobayashi sliding in trying to steal second. He was out but then Ishihara walked. Abe (pinch hitter) followed and thankfully grounded out to end the innings. Tigers still held a slender lead. Kikuchihara took over for Tigers eighth and gave up a lead off hit to Toritani. This induced, as it does nowadays panic on the Carp bench and Kikuchihara was replaced by Ueno. Toritani tried to steal second and was thrown out which was a pity as Murton singled. Arai didn't produce anything and hit into a double play to end the innings. For Carp's eighth Tigers sent Katoh to the mound and with Fujii a bit more settled Tigers defence was much sounder. The three batters fell in order in what seemed to restore normal service. Despite the one run margin the game was back on track to slip away from the Carp. Imanari singled to lead off Tigers ninth and was pinch run for by Shunsuke. There was the inevitable pointless and stupid bunt - this one from Sekimoto taking Shunsuke to second. Fujii grounded out and Shunsuke stayed on second but Carp replaced their pitcher bringing Hisamoto on. He walked Hiyama (pinch hitter) runners on first and second. Saka singled to second who was able to field and throw to home for the final out as Shunsuke tried to slide in. By contrast Carp's ninth was a bit of a non-event. Fukuhara was the pitcher and closed the three batters down very effectively fooling them in the flight of his pitches. Tigers victory.

Another series against the Carp who seem to be struggling at the moment. The win went to Enokida who doesn't have many of those so far. Fukuhara picked up the save but the game could and should have been far more comfortable. One can say that Tigers took their foot off the Carp's neck in the seventh and need to be more ruthless. However, a win is a win and it keeps Tigers in touch with the leaders - the Giants.