September 12th Nohmi v Ohno - Not raising their game

Fujiii was deregistered due to a bruised calf he picked up from a batted ball in the eighth innings of this game. Whilst he did pick up the injury this is only a pretext. He was pulled out of the team for his series of abysmal performances with the night before being the last straw and replaced by Komiyama though Shimizu will be handling the majority of catching duites for the moment. Things didn't improve that much and a poor performance by both Nohmi and Kubo saw Tigers lose the game neither being able to summon up the intensity needed to win. Scores

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

Starting Lineups

Dragons
1. Matsui (Centre)
2. Naomichi Donue (Short)
3. Morino (Second)
4. Wada (Left)
5. Hirata (Right)
6. Clark (First)
7. Shuhei Takahashi (Third)
8. Tanishige (Catcher)
9. Ohno (PItcher)

Tigers
1. Nishioka (Second)
2. Shunsuke (Centre)
3. Takahiro Arai (First)
4. Toritani (Short)
5. Murton (Left)
6. Ryota Arai (Third)
7. Shibata (Right)
8. Shimizu (Catcher)
9. Nohmi (Pitcher)

Even a fading team of has-beens and second raters can have a sting in the tail as Tigers found. They were outclassed in this game and it is partly due to the reshuffled lineup that Wada is currently playing. Nohmi started well and the Dragons fell in order. Things looked good. No Tiger got on base either in the first and so the innings was rather quiet. Nohmi ran into trouble facing Hirata in Dragons second and walked the right in four. Clark grounded out to first taking Hirata to second and then Shuhei Takahashi doubled to left centre. Not what was wanted as HIrata scored from second 1-0 Dragons, runner on second. Tanishige flew out to left to end the innings. Ohno didn't seem to welcome the lead with any enthusiasm and issued a lead off walk to Toritani. Murton singled left putting runners on first and second. This looked dangerous and Ohno panicked sending down a wild pitch which was exploited by Toritani making home 1-1 scores tied. Murton tried to make third but was tagged out. Ryota struck out and Shibata grounded out to second. Things were even and this was the story of the game - Tigers with a bit of application could have exploited the Dragons second ratedness but failed to reach the levels necessary to win. It does not bode well for the Climax Series. Nohmi wasn't having a good night. He faced Ohno to lead off Dragons third and gave up a single to left. Naomichi Donoue singled left to put runners on first and third and then Morino hit back to Nohmi. Another out but Nohmi fumbled and flustered for a serious error which allowed Ohno home 2-1 Dragons, runners on first and second with only one out. Wada hit into a double play but far to casual fielding had cost Tigers a good position. The bottom of the order in Tigers third weren't able to do anything but Nishioka doubled to left centre. However, the next batter was one of Wada's lightweights, Shunsuke who flew out. Shunsuke has not really been able to hit in a clutch and this is a point against using him rather than Asai at centre. Asai is not that good but can produce with runners on.

Nohmi struck out Hirata to start Dragons fourth - something that should have happened in the second. Clark though picked up on a loose pitch and doubled to right centre. Takahashi flew out and then Tigers walked Tanishige to get at Ohno for the final out on the grounds that lightning doesn't strike twice. It didn't, Ohno grounded out to first. Tigers fourth saw the whole clean up fail miserably and no one got on base. Nohmi still wasn't particularly good and this is one outing he will not look back at with affection. He walked Matsui to lead off the Dragons fifth. Naomichi Donoue bunted him to second which meant Tigers fans could relax a bit. Morino grounded out to short taking Naomichi Donoue to third and then Nohmi walked Wada - runners on first and third. This left him free to concentrate on Hirata who was easily induced to fly out to right off only his second pitch. Having held the Dragons successfully Tigers finally hit back. Ryota singled and was bunted to second by Shibata. This waste did not go unpunished as Shimzu flew out. Next was Nohmi and he also should have been an easy out. Instead Ohno fluffed it this time and Nohmi hit his first pitch into right to bring home the runner 2-2 scores tied and runner on first. Nishioka singled to centre to put runners on first and second but once again Shunsuke failed flying out to left. Nohmi though having achieved parity once again blew it. With one out in Dragons sixth Takahashi rather luckily doubled left. It shouldn't have been an issue as the next batter was Tanishige but Nohmi was in a charitable mood all game and gave up a single to centre to the catcher. This brought Takahashi home 3-2 Dragons, runner on first. Takagi - no doubt wary of Ohno's ability to also give up runs went with a pinch hitter for the next batter - Yamasaki. This was not a success as Yamasaki hit into a double play to end the innings. Still Dragons were ahead again. Tajima pitched Tigers sixth and his walk of Toritani who is still not occupying the No. 4 batter mind set was the only incident of note in a quiet innings.

Dragons seventh was a quiet innings with no one getting on base. Tigers seventh started promisingly with Shibata singling to centre. Wada wasted the chance and an out by having Shimizu bunt him to second. This reflex bunt move is so counter productive that one wonders what level pig headedness is needed to constantly use it. Fukudome (pinch hitter) flew out to right and then Nishioka who is never good with runners on grounded out to first to end the innings. Kubo pitched Dragons eighth and one can only conclude that there is something wrong with him and that he shouldn't even be pitching. He was that bad and walked Wada to lead off the innings. Hirata struck out - his moment of glory gone but Clark doubled along the right baseline - runners on second and third. Incredibly and a decision which reflects on good on Shimizu Shuhei Takahashi was deliberately walked to load the bases. This was the disaster it threatened to be as Kubo could not handle Tanishige who hit right to bring in the runner 4-2 Dragons, bases loaded. Fukuhara took over at this point but he was only uncooperative and walked Takehiro Donoue (pinch hitter) - oshidashi 5-2 Dragons, bases loaded. What is it with Tigers pitchers that they have to walk the first batter they face? Matsui then hit into a double play but the Dragons were now in a comfortable situation. Tigers stupidity had cost them dear. Tigers then wasted the chance they had in the eighth to at least put a dent in the lead. Asao pitched and he strugged against the batters. Imanari (replacement right) flew out but then Arai singled left. Toritani hit right - runners on first and second. Murton grounded out to third but Ryota walked - bases loaded. Unfortunately Shibata proved to be a pussy and struck out in three to end the innings. Dragons had had a lucky escape. Kubota pitched Dragons ninth and he is beginning to look more and more like the Kubota of old. If he can maintain this form he will be very useful next season. Naomichi Donoue singled left to lead off the innings. but then Morino was lured into a double play. Wada swung at a tempting pitch and grounded out to second to end the innings. Tigers ninth was a disappointment. Iwase pitched and really was there for the taking - with one out Sekimoto (pinch hitter) managed a little grubber hit which Tanishige fumbled and Sekimoto was safe on first. Nishioka singled to put runners on first and second and Asai belying what I said about him earlier flew out to centre. Sekimoto tagged up and took third which left things up to Arai. He did nothing and popped up to Tanishige to end the game. Dragons victory.

A failure to take their chances against a mediocre team had cost Tigers. Arai at third does not seem to be working and whilst he was happy to bat in front of Kanemoto his old friend he is not so happy batting in front of Toritani or for that matter behind him. It may well be that Arai is fading but to know that the person superceeding you is even less suited to the role of No. 4 than you are must be galling. Hiyama had the right idea - leaving at the top and escaping the encroaching mediocrity of the Sakai/Wada regime.