Koshien test game no 1

This one almost crept under the radar screen. The Tigers are playing two practice games at the new Koshien against the Giants and the Dragons. Yesterday (12th) was the game against the Giants. It was interesting as the Tigers had a strong team out.

----------1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H
Giants 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 4
Tigers 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 X 2 12

Starting lineups were

1 Hirano (Centre)
2 Sekimoto (Second)
3 Ford (Right)
4 Arai (First)
5 Imaoka (Third)
6 Toritani (Short)
7 Yano (Catcher)
8 Asai (Left)
9 Akahoshi (DH)
Starting pitcher was Vogelsang

Giants
1 Kamei (Right)
2 Tani (Centre)
3 Gonzalez (First)
4 Ramirez (Left)
5 Shimizu (DH)
6 Sakamoto (Second)
7 Furuki (Third)
8 Tsuburaya (Short)
9 Hoshi (Catcher)
Starting pitcher was Hisanori Takahashi

Vogelsang got into trouble with his control in the first innings. He issued a two base hit and three walks giving the Giants a 1-0 lead. This was the situation until the bottom of the second when Tigers squared the game on a Yano hit.

Asai gave them the lead permanently in the third when he drove in Toritani. Abe, Kubota, Fujikawa and Egusa ensured it remained that way. Of the Tigers, Tortani has three hits, Asai and Yano two each and Ford, Imaoka, Arai, Saka and Komiyama one each. Once again Abe did well as did all the Tigers pitchers (Even Vogelsong once he'd overcome his problems in the first).

Vogelsong was hit in the ribs by a line drive in the first inning with 1 out and a man on 2nd. He walked the next 3 batters to score the run. He struck out 5 in the next 2 innings.