July 12th Messenger v Corcoran - Momentum builds

It wasn't really necessary to have Messenger pitch the eighth innings and was quite rash given the score and the situation - a one run margin. Once again it denotes poor management even though it did work out all right. Both sides wasted a lot of chances and Tigers owed the victory to the clean up and their momentum - a long streak and revenge against the Giants would be of great assistance and with Fukudome returning early August Tigers might be well placed to weather shi no rodo better than previously. Scores

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

Starting Lineups

BayStars
1. Aranami (Right)
2. Yamazaki (Short)
3. Morgan (Centre)
4. Blanco (First)
5. Nakamura (Third)
6. Ishikawa (Second)
7. Shimozono (Left)
8. Takajoh (Catcher)
9. Corcoran (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. Messenger (Pitcher)

The start was not what Tigers would have wished for as Messenger and Fujii made a complete mess of the first innings. Aranami led off with a walk. Yamazaki actually went for his hit - not a bunt. This worked wonderfully well putting runners on first and third. Morgan grounded out to third but Saka couldn't prevent the run from scoring 1-0 BayStars, Yamazaki on second. Blanco was next and singled to centre, once again putting runners on the corners. Nakamura struck out - a ray of light for the Tigers. However, Ishikawa worked a straight through the infield for a timely single 2-0 BayStars, runners on first and second. Shimozono was next but he could only strike out and the innings was over. BayStars had had a very useable start. If Messenger hadn't exactly inspired confidence in his first trip to the mound Corcoran did the same. Nishioka's lead off double was chosen with care - straight down the middle. Corcoran then dead balled Yamato - runners on first and second. Toritani drove into centre to bring home Nishioka, 2-1 BayStars, runners on first and second. A wild pitch - the first one of Murton's at bat took the runners to second and third and then Murton hit his second pitch to left to bring in another run 2-2 scores tied, runners on first and third. Arai took a big swing at the ball and launched it into right field where it was taken by Aranami. He couldn't prevent Toritani from tagging up and making home though 3-2 Tigers, runner on first. Tigers had immediately turned the game around. Imanari then managed to ground out weakly to Corcoran who was alert enough to throw to second and end the innings. Tigers had the lead but one didn't expect the scoring to finish there. However, this is exactly what happened. BayStars second saw both Takajoh and Corcoran strike out looking and then Aranami flew out to centre. No one on base. Fujii singled right with one out in Tigers second and was bunted to second by Messenger. Of course no run resulted from this but Nishioka did walk. Runners on first and second. Yamato flew out to right trying to find the sweet spot. Messenger seemed to have recovered very nicely from his poor start and was now weaving a spell over the BayStars batters who once again fell in order in the third. Unfortunately the same was happening to Tigers batters and non of the clean up who had been so prominent in the first did anything in the third.

BayStars were unable to do anything in their fourth either and the final batter of the innings Shimozono fell to a fine diving catch by Saka who whatever his faults has always been a very atheletic and agile fielder. Tigers fourth saw nothing from Imanari and Saka but Fujii singled over the infield. Then Messenger hit right between first and second - runners on first and third. This kind of chance doesn't come often (a pitcher hitting) but Nishioka blew it and grounded out to short for the final out. BayStars were still struggling to get any traction and their fifth was another quiet affair - the batting wasn't interesting but the pitching was. Toritani singled with one out in Tigers fifth and then with Murton at bat stole second. Murton walked and another chance looked like it would manifest but Arai hit into the innings ending double play. BayStars sixth started with single to Yamazaki. Here though BayStars kindly helped Tigers out. They had Morgan bunt Yamazaki to second - no doubt on the grounds that the one run was all that was needed. But having your No. 3 bunt is as stupid as having your No. 5 bunt. It is a waste of potential hitting power and gives the opposition the vital out whilst taking a clean up batter out of the equation. Fujii didn't call well here trying to get Blanco to swing at high balls which Blanco ignored and he walked on a full count. Nakamura hit past the infield but Yamato standing in fielded and lasered the ball to third for the ground out - a vital piece of fielding - runners on first and second. Then Ishikawa hit back to Messenger who fired the ball to third for the final out. Tigers had overcome the mess with Blanco rather neatly. Tigers sixth started with an Imanari single. This led to the replacement of Corcoran who hadn't pitched well at all but had somehow escaped with only three runs damage. Osada took over and Shunsuke (replacement right) stole second. However, Saka would ground out and this would also engulf Shunsuke caught off base. Fujii then struck out to end the innings.

BayStars seventh was what should have been Messenger's last innings. Shimozono singled to lead it off which didn't look good but then Takajoh tried to bunt, failed and was out in the ensuing double play. Ramirez (pinch hitter) was the final batter striking out swinging to end the innings. Ohhara took over pitching for the BayStars but Tigers then wasted their seventh having Messenger lead off the innings and grounding out. A pinch hitter here would have been the right move. Nishioka lined out but Yamato tripled to left. Toritani walked to set up runners on first and third and Ohta took over the mound duties. He got Murton to ground out to short and end the innings. Wada seems to have a kind of rigid principle - if a pitcher is under 100 pitches he pitches another innings. If he isn't he doesn't. However, Messenger was on 99 pitches and clearly there was no need in a tight game to make him pitch the extra tiring innings. It could have blown the slender lead and was stupid management of the highest order. Aranami went easily but that was all. Yamazaki took more work and then Morgan singled right. Blanco walked to set up runners on first and second but Nakamura flew out to right. Tigers had escaped and Wada didn't have to pay for his air headed folly. Tigers eighth was quiet with the batters falling in order. For the BayStars this still gave them a chance and at least Wada wasn't stupid enough to have Messenger pitch the ninth. Instead we saw Katoh take the mound. He retired Ishiakwa who flew out and then Fukuhara took over. Tamura (pinch hitter) and Kinjoh (pinch hitter) also both flew out to end the innings. Game over and Tigers victory.

Tigers sixth victory in a row and a well worked tight game. There is no reason why they shouldn't go on and sweep the BayStars as well. BayStars had their chances but couldn't take advantage of Tigers management mistakes particularly in the eighth. Messenger had done well and deserved the victory but the extra innings had come close to losing the game for the Tigers. The handling of the ninth had also been strange as well. Still Tigers could be happy that they had come through successfully despite their managers strange ways.