July 10th Standridge v Nishikawa - Tigers like Okinawa

Another good victory against a struggling and floundering Dragons team saw Standridge finally pick up a win after a short barren period. Once again this game had a seven o'clock start and once again it seemed to suit the Tigers batters. This time it was NIshioka who shone. Scores

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

Starting Lineups

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

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

Ohshima went quickly to a good catch by Nishioka but then Araki doubled. It is fair to say that Standridge wasn't at his best this game - in fact he has pitched better and lost so this is a way of evening up the tally. Clark grounded out to second which took Araki to third and then Wada grounded out to short ending the innings. Dragons are really missing the injured Luna. Dragons did well to keep Tigers out in the bottom. Whilst Nishioka flew out in foul ground it took a diving stop to deny Yamato and a quick jumping throw to dispose of Toritani. Dragons next base runner came courtesy of a Saka error, the third base messing up the throw when Hirata hit it to him. Tigers fielding seemed to have been affected by the holiday location. Runner on first with no outs. Dragons blew the chance - Morino struck out and Hirata tried to go for the steal. This didn't work and he was tagged out. Ibata then grounded out. Dragons hadn't made anything of their second. Tigers second was quiet - Nishikawa would struggle later but at the moment he was coolly in control. Having made one error in the previous innings Saka then made another one fumbling a grounder from Tanishige. Whatever his faults Ryota never made this kind of mess. Nishikawa bunted Tanishige to second but Standridge struck out Ohshima. Araki went for his hit and mistimed it flying out in foul ground to end the innings. Tigers third amazingly involved a two out walk to Standridge. One would have expected Nishikawa to get the third out easily and so this came as a complete surprise. Nishioka seized the chance and drove into centre to put runners on second and third. Then Yamato walked - Nishikawa was really shaky by now and the bases were loaded. Toritani isn't really that good in this sort of situation and his only response was to ground out to short and end the chance.

Standridge suffered a Fujii moment in Dragons fourth walking Hirata with two out. Why it was necessary to throw four outside pitches in a row at a batter who wasn't biting is one of life's little mysteries. He redeemed himself by striking out Morino to end the innings. With Murton flying out to start Tigers fourth, Arai worked himself a walk. Imanari singled to put runners on first and third. Then Saka hit left bringing in Arai 1-0 Tigers, runners on first and third. Fujii hit weakly back to Nishikawa who threw to second to initiate the double play and end the innings. Still Tigers were in the lead and now in control. They didn't seem to know what to do with it as Standridge issued a lead off walk to Ibata to start Dragons fifth. Tanishige grounded out taking Ibata to second and then Nishikawa managed to ground out to Standridge. Ohshima flew out to right to end the innings. It was clear that Nishikawa couldn't deal with Standridge and the Tigers pitcher hit a line drive to left leading off Tigers fifth. Nishioka and Yamato both flew out and it looked like Tigers wouldn't benefit from this largess except that Toritani walked - runners on first and second. Murton who has been quiet of late hit right putting the ball over Hirata for a timely double 2-0 Tigers, runners on second and third. One thought that Toritani should have gone for home as well but he was held up on third. Arai tried to hit deep but flew out to centre ending the innings. Tigers were building a very useful lead. Dragons sixth was not what they wanted. Two outs down and Wada singled but Hirata flew out. They were gradually falling behind the game and the bottom of the innings would see them fully out of it. Tigers sixth started with an Imanari single to right. Saka flew out and Fujii hit a grounder which forced out Imanari but Fujii beat the throw to reach first safely. Standridge was next and hit to centre putting runners on first and third. Nishikawa really was hopeless against the Tigers pitcher. Perhaps that was in his mind when he faced Nishioka as his shutto was not the best. Nishioka hit the pitch hard to right where it sailed over the fence for a three run home run 5-0 Tigers. Yamato hit to Ibata who fielded but couldn't prevent Yamato from reaching first. Yamato stole second but to no avail as Toritani flew out to end the innings. Still a most productive innings for Tigers.

Standridge started Dragons seventh well with Morino grounding out. Then things got a bit more difficult. Fujii's calling was as ever unsympathetic and Standridge as I mentioned was not at his best. Ibata walked in four - once again the exclusive diet of outside pitches. Tanishige struck out looking but Yamasaki (pinch hitter) singled to centre and Ibata ensured that he reached third. Ohshima hit to centre to bring in the run 5-1 Tigers, runners on first and third. Araki swung and flew out to second ending the innings. Once again Standridge had been slightly over-pitched but the run had ensured that he would be replaced for the eighth and would not be trying for a complete game shutout. Tigers seventh was pitched by Suzuki who started with a line out to second from Murton. Arai grounded out and Imanari flew out to left. Tsutsui took over the mound duties for Dragons eighth and got Clark to swing and fly out to Fujii. Wada though got hold of a straight and hammered it into left for a double. Hirata flew out deep to right which did have the effect of taking Wada to third but Morino couldn't do anything and popped up to third. Tigers then showed Dragons how things should be done. With one out Fujii came to life and singled to right. Shunsuke (pinch hitter and replacement right) hit a dribbling little hit to left where it was fielded by Morino but not quickly enough to intercept the runners - Fujii though could only reach second. Nishioka then hit hard to short who stopped but could only deflect the ball and Fujii was able to race home 6-1 Tigers, runners on first and third. Yamato struck out swinging but Toritani walked to load the bases. Personally I feel that Toritani does need to to do more to drive in runs and that as No. 3 batter his production should be much higher. With bases loaded Murton grounded out to third but Tigers control was such that the extra runs weren't really needed. Watanabe pitched the Dragons ninth and did well. Dragons were beaten and could only fall in order to end the game. Tigers victory.

It used to be the case that if the opposition scored the Dragons would immediately lift their game and organise an effective counter-attack. This happened so many times it was something you could lay money on though you would have probably only got very short odds. Now though the Dragons seem to lack that counter-attack punching ability and are definitely on a downward slope. Tigers side today looked one of their most balanced outfits and with no bunts played nice attacking baseball. Good work in the field and perhaps Saka's bad day at third can be forgiven. Tigers had a nice visit to Okinawa and can now return to Koshien to face the BayStars with confidence. If they play their cards right a long winning streak beckons.