September 26th Shiranita v Soto - Another series dropped

A strange game this one. Tigers leveled the game took a comfortable lead and then blew it. The pitching lineup was strange and the management of the pitching defied comprehension. For the second season in a row Tigers have posted a losing record at Koshien which is not the way to treat the loyal fans but also indicates Wada's inadequacies. If you can't win at home you're not going to win many championships. The BayStars victory also meant that for the first time in 9 years BayStars posted a winning record for the season against Tigers. This from a team finishing fifth - hardly an advertisement for Wada's management either. Scores

          1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R  H E
BayStars  2 0 0 0 0 2 0 2 0 6 11 1
Tigers    2 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 4  8 0

Starting Lineups

BayStars
1. Ishikawa (Second)
2. Aranami (Centre)
3. Kajitani (Short)
4. Blanco (First)
5. Nakamura (Third)
6. Tamura (Right)
7. Matsumoto (Left)
8. Tsuruoka (Catcher)
9. Soto (Pitcher)

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

Things started strangely indeed with Ishikawa trying a bunt off his second pitch. The bunt worked and what should have been an easy out was instead a runner on first due to an infield single. Then we had to have the traditional bunt which moved the runner to second whilst sacrificing the out. Kajitani walked to set up runners on first and second. Next was Blanco who hit left - a powerful hit which bounced off the fence and brought in a run 1-0 BayStars, runners on first and third. Nakamura lined out but Tamura hit right to bring in Kajitani 2-0 BayStars runners on first and second. Finally, Matsumoto grounded out to second. Shiranita hadn't started well. Tigers response was rapid and appropriate. Nishioka hit to short and picked up a bit of luck with Kajitani messing up again and making a poor throw - runner on first. Shunsuke had to bunt of course but this one threaded it's way between second and first for a single - runners on first and second. Murton flew out to centre and Nishioka touched up and took third. Toritani went for the big hit into centre and this one going into the right centre outfield for a timely double. Not only did Nishioka make home but Shunsuke using his speed was able to round the bases and also reach the home plate 2-2 scores tied, runner on second. Arai grounded out to second for the second out taking Toritani to third and then Fukudome flew out to left to end the innings. Tigers had restored the balance nicely and one had hopes of a victory. Tsuruoka led off BayStars second with a line drive to left. Soto bunted as Tsuruoka set off but the throw to second from Shiranita was poor and this resulted in Tsuruoka taking third. Ishikawa managed to ground out back to Shiranita and then Aranami flew out in foul ground ending the challenge but it was this innings which decided Wada to change pitchers. Soto had an easy ride in Tigers second striking out two and getting Morita (pinch hitter) to fly out and end the innings. Kubo took over for BayStars third. He struck out Kajitani and then Blanco before getting Nakamura to ground out to him. Soto got into a mess in Tigers third though. Nishioka led the innings off with a solo home run hitting a straight into the left stand 3-2 Tigers. Shunsuke's dribbler was fielded by Nakamura and he was the first out. Murton flew out but then Toritani walked. He successfully stole second which was all the space Arai needed singling into centre to bring home Toritani 4-2 Tigers, runner on first. Fukudome managed to fly out to centre to end the innings. Tigers had pegged the BayStars back and now taken a comfortable lead.

Kubo was pitching well and BayStars weren't able to counter him at all. The three batters in their fourth went down in order. Tigers batters also went down in order in the fourth with the final batter being Kubo who was having a for him now rare at bat. He would pitch the BayStars fifth as well. It was a nice innings with a pitcher ground out being sandwiched between two strike outs. Kubo had done well and preserved the lead nicely in one of his better outings. Soto didn't last beyond the fourth and was replaced by Kobayashi. He started by striking out Nishioka but Shunsuke singled right. Murton flew out and then Shunsuke tried to steal second. He is fast but hasn't got the acceleration and rhythm right at all and was tagged out to end the innings. Kubota took over for BayStars sixth and on the face of it he was the appropriate pitcher for the situation. A comfortable lead and mid innings. Things went wrong immediately. It is difficult to understand why his first pitch was a straight ball in the middle of the zone and not a particularly fast one at that. Kajitani wasn't turning his nose up at that gift and hammered the ball to right for a solo home run 4-3 Tigers. Next was Blanco and he worked the count full before going for another Kubota pitch in the zone - another home run 4-4 scores tied. It had been a disaster and raises big questions about Kubota's continuing role as a top team relief pitcher. The next three batters went down in order which was even more galling - if only Kubota could have done so earlier. Toritani led off Tigers sixth with his delayed at bat (he was at the plate when Shunsuke was caught stealing) by grounding out. Then Arai worked a walk. Both Fukudome and Ryota flew out and the innings was over. Still the game was tied and Tigers were in with a chance.

Matsuda took over for BayStars seventh and got the first two batters. Then Ishikawa hit to centre. However, Aranami flew out to centre ending the innings. Tigers seventh was pitched by Fujie who retired the batters in order very neatly. Matsuda returned for BayStars eighth and faced Kajitani. Once again another pitch in the zone in the middle (though a trifle lower this time) and Kajitani hit his second home run of the night 5-4 BayStars. Blanco singled an out followed but Tamura doubled to left centre putting runners on second and third. Matsuda was hopelessly out of his depth. Gotoh (pinch hitter) walked to load the bases and Wada decided to switch pitchers. Here there followed a little bit of farce. Wada had signaled Andoh as the replacement but the car brought out Katoh. He jumped out only to be told that he wasn't needed and then had to jump back into the car and be driven back to the bullpen. This piece of incompetence was accompanied by the jeers and boos of the Tigers fans. After the confusion had been sorted out Andoh took the mound and faced Tsuruoka. The BayStars catcher singled up the centre to bring in a run 6-4 BayStars, bases loaded. Kinjoh (pinch hitter and replacement left) struck out looking before Ishikawa flew out to centre to end the innings. Tigers were now behind with what looked like no way back. There was an attempt in the eighth though. Osada took the mound and gave up a lead off single to Shunsuke. Murton hit to right but a diving take and throw by Ishikawa saw Shunsuke forced out at second with Murton on first. Toritani singled to right which did put runners on first and second but with Shunsuke on base the runner would have reached third or even more - it had been a very significant piece of fielding by Ishikawa. Arai hit a deep fly to left and Murton tagged up and took third. It really needed Fukudome to do something but his timing is really off and he once again flew out this time to third. Katoh made his belated appearance on the mound for Tigers and did well. All three batters fell in order and the BayStars ninth was quiet. Sosa pitched Tigers ninth and struck out Shibata (replacement right). Hidaka (pinch hitter) singled but Saka (replacement third) flew out to centre. Nishioka walked on a full count and with runners on first and second the game was set for a dramatic ending. It wasn't to be - the game ended in a whimper. Shunsuke struck out swinging and BayStars had won.

Tigers sorry record continued and they have gone nine series without a win (8 losses and 1 tie). They travel to Nagoya Dome for the final series of the season before the make up games. There are still 8 games left and Tigers can still finish third. The relief had failed this time but to be honest this was predictable as it has been heavily neglected by Nakanishi. Because of the neglect it wasn't available when needed. Fukudome's slump has also come at the worst time possible for Tigers and one has to question his signing despite his bright points. But once again the management inadequacies were fully exposed.