Hawks and Marines Set to Clash Tomorrow

With a fairly even season series between them, the Hawks and Marines have played each other tough this season. However, these two games are easily the most important between the two teams this season, as playoff implications abound.

With Seibu's loss to the red-hot Orix Buffaloes today, the Hawks gained a half-game, and are 7.5 games in back of the Lions. While the Buffaloes have been winning, the Hawks have to worry about themselves and the task at-hand and that is taking both games against Lotte.

It starts off very tough, as the Hawks have to face Yoshihisa Naruse, who has been good this season, just not as good as he was last season. Naruse is 1-2 with a 2.45 ERA against the Hawks this season, with his only start at Yahoo! Dome being a hard-luck loss as he went 8 innings, giving up 2 runs on 6 hits. His overall record this season is 6-6, with a 3.30 ERA.

Pitching for the Hawks will be DJ Houlton, who is 4-4 with a 3.58 ERA on the season. He has been nothing short of spectacular against Lotte this season. He is 2-0 with a 1.02 ERA in 17 and 2/3 innings against the Marines with 19 strikeouts.

This game begins at 6PM Japan time.

Hi, as I watched these 2 games, then I'd like to make some comments for Hawks. (Actually I love Lions most, but second is Hawks)
On Saturday, severe game grilled Hawks, but I though if Takaya tried a squeeze play at 9 inning, as you know, that time,
a runner at the third base, no out, and Takaya didn't work well on Saturday, but he didn't, left the runner there.
After the game, Oh-san said "That scene, they surely had to make a hit and get Sayonara all the way, but I didn't feel such feeling from our players, it was my fault." This was the point. If the batter was not Takaya, i.e., Matsunaka or Kokubo, yes, they could do it at the moment.
However, the batter was Takaya, a new guy in this year, hard to act such a way.
Since if Oh-san directed him to do a squeeze play, of course, just became the same point to Lotte.
But Lotte couldn't send Ogino on the next inning due to tie score, so I thought Hawks had another chance for a win.

As the result, Saturday game affected the following game on Lotte. They didn't seem not to give up a chance of winning.
Mahara was hard to set his control this day, however, still threw speed balls. Lotte batter, Hashimoto was strong such speed balls like Dalvish, on the other day, Hashimoto made a home-run from Dalvish.
If Takaya had more space in the front of him, Hashimoto couldn't hit a home-run, Takaya forgot Hashimoto was a veteran catcher.

Now Lions, Buffaloes, Lotte and Hawks. Lions faces some difficulties too.
During Buffaloes and Lotte match in this week, Hawks should refresh and re-think a catcher position. Fortunately, Tamura ,Tanoue joined team, and this week games are Eagles, gain wins!