Marines Shoot Down Hawks; SoftBank's Playoff Hopes in Jeopardy

This was not what the Hawks had in mind going into the weekend series against the Chiba Lotte Marines. The Hawks came in needing at least a split, they ended up losing both of them and are now out of the playoffs, if the season were to end today. It gets worse: the Hawks are only 1/2 game ahead of the Nippon Ham for 4th place. SoftBank could end up in 5th if they don't get their act together.

The first game looked good on paper, as the Hawks sent super-gaijin DJ Houlton to the mound against Yoshihisa Naruse for the Marines. Houlton has been excellent against the Marines this season, and he has been very good for the Hawks whenever they need innings. Once again, the former Los Angeles Dodger made some noise on the mound. He went 7 innings, giving up 3 runs on 7 hits, striking out 7. Even though a quality start was awarded to Houlton, a win was not.

Naruse was almost Houlton's equal, giving up 3 runs while scattering 10 hits and striking out 8. The bullpen gave the Hawks fits, with Sikorski and Kawasaki shutting down the Hawks until Ogino got a shaky save in the 9th.

The very next day once again showed that the Hawks were better on paper, but that's why they play the game. Hiroyuki Kobayashi was shaky through 6 and 2/3 innings, giving up 6 runs (4 earned) over6 and 2/3 innings, giving up 6 hits, striking out 4 and walking 2.

Tsuyoshi Wada took the mound for the Hawks, one week to the day after throwing 10 innings. He did well over 7 and 2/3 innings, giving up 2 runs on 6 hits, striking out 6. However, once again the bullpen could not hold the lead. Takahiro Mahara blew the save, but he didn't just blow it, he took a gas canister to the mound with him, drenched the pitcher's mound with it, then proceeded to light a match and burn the Yahoo! Dome to the ground.

With a 6-2 lead going into the 9th, it seemed like it was easy pickings for ace closer Mahara who is the Hawks club record-holder for saves in a season with 38 last season, but he only managed to get one out, giving up 4 runs on 4 hits, the big hit being a grand slam by backup catcher Tasuku Hashimoto.

The blown save by Mahara may have been the dagger in the Hawks' heart, but the Marines proceeded to twist it with a 12th-inning home run from former Hawk Julio Zuleta, which pounded the final nail in the Hawks' coffin.

Nothing about the Hawks offense in both of these games was worth mentioning, with the exception of Hitoshi Tamura's return from the injured list. He cracked his fibula early in the season, and while he says he's not 100%, he's glad to be back. His bat will definitely be a huge boost to the club.

The rest of the weekend offensively was only fair. None of the big bats have stepped up with big hits when needed, and a huge weak link is Takaya the catcher. After an excellent 2-week stretch or so when he was called up, he has been nothing short of awful at the plate. He is batting under .200 and was part of the Hawks rally that fell short in the 9th in Game 1. I'm not expecting the 2003 Hawks to show up, but at least some more consistency would be nice.

The Hawks are now in 4th place and more trouble looms as the Hawks have to take on their old nemesis, Hisashi Iwakuma. Rick Guttormson will take the mound for the Hawks.