2007 PL Climax Series Stage 2 Game 4
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Comments
Re: 2007 PL Climax Series Stage 2 Game 4
[ Author: Tokyo Sox | Posted: Oct 16, 2007 4:56 PM
| TYS Fan
]
That chat was a good time last night, thanks for setting it up. And thanks to you and Deanna for the play by play.
I thought the consensus last night was that Naruse would start tonight for Lotte, but Yahoo! Japan is reporting that Shingo Ono will get the start.
I thought the consensus last night was that Naruse would start tonight for Lotte, but Yahoo! Japan is reporting that Shingo Ono will get the start.
Re: 2007 PL Climax Series Stage 2 Game 4
[ Author: westbaystars | Posted: Oct 16, 2007 6:05 PM
| YBS Fan
]
You left just a little too early. It was announced soon after the game ended.
Re: 2007 PL Climax Series Stage 2 Game 4
[ Author: westbaystars | Posted: Oct 16, 2007 10:27 PM
| YBS Fan
]
Don't let the 5-1 score fool you. This was a close game right up to the 9th when Micheal had a very uncharacteristic melt down.
I'm sure that all of us are anxiously looking forward to Thursday's (yes, there's one day off) face off between Naruse and Darvish. The biggest question most of you will face is, do I attend the PL or CL chat room on Thursday night? I'll be working the PL final. If I can find a volunteer to call the Chunichi vs. Giants game, that'd be great.
In the mean time, here's the full game log of Stage 2 Game 4 for your enjoyment.
TRANSCRIPT generated on 2007/10/16
CHATROOM 2007 Pacific League Climax Series/Stage 2 Game 4
17:04 bobba: has the game started yet?
17:56 Deanna: Yup, Ono vs. Sweeney. I'll try to come back in a bit.
18:02 westbaystars: Sweeny takes the mound for the Fighters tonight.
18:03 westbaystars: Tsuyoshi leads off grounding out to Kaneko at short.
18:03 westbaystars: One away.
18:04 westbaystars: That brings up Hayakawa who hits the ball over Morimoto's head.
18:04 westbaystars: The ball bounces just short of the wall, Hichori fielding the rebound.
18:04 westbaystars: And Hayakawa cruizes into second with a stand up double.
18:04 westbaystars: Fukuura follows.
18:07 westbaystars: Fukuura grounds a 2-2 pitch through the right side, base hit!
18:07 westbaystars: Hayakawa rounds third, but is held.
18:07 westbaystars: Runners at the corners with one out.
18:07 westbaystars: That brings up Saburo.
18:09 westbaystars: Strike three called on the inside corner for out number two.
18:09 westbaystars: The catcher setup inside, and Sweeney put it right into his mit.
18:10 westbaystars: I think it was a ball, but Sweeney did a great job putting the ball into the cather's glove.
18:10 westbaystars: Satozaki follows with runners at first and third, two down.
18:11 westbaystars: Satozaki grounds the ball to Koyano at third.
18:11 westbaystars: He pumps once, then fires to second for the force.
18:11 westbaystars: And the side is retired.
18:12 westbaystars: The Marines got put runners at the corners with one out, but come up empty in the first.l
18:12 westbaystars: ---
18:12 westbaystars: Bottom of 1st
18:12 westbaystars: ---
18:13 westbaystars: Morimoto will be leading off for the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters.
18:14 westbaystars: Facing Ono Shingo.
18:14 westbaystars: Ono's first pitch misses way up high for ball one.
18:15 westbaystars: Morimoto goes down swinging on four pitches. One away.
18:15 westbaystars: That brings up Tanaka.
18:15 westbaystars: Batting .462 in the Series so far.
18:17 westbaystars: After fouling off a few 2 strike, 1 ball pitches, Tanaka takes ball two in the dirt.
18:17 westbaystars: 2 and 2.
18:17 westbaystars: Ono misses with the next pitch, full count.
18:19 westbaystars: After fouling another pitch off, Tanaka goes the other way and lines the ball into left-center field for a base hit.
18:19 westbaystars: One away, runner at first.
18:19 westbaystars: That'll bring up Inaba.
18:19 westbaystars: Batting .455 on the Series.
18:21 westbaystars: For a right hander, Ono has a great pick off move to first.
18:21 westbaystars: Almost got Tanaka a couple of times.
18:23 Deanna: I'm just stopping in for a second, but, I don't suppose you have data on how many pitches each batter has seen?
18:23 westbaystars: Tanaka is on the run.
18:23 Deanna: I swear Kensuke Tanaka is leading the PL
18:23 westbaystars: And Satozaki nails him at second.
18:23 Deanna: Oops.
18:23 westbaystars: By a good meter or two.
18:23 westbaystars: I know that Tanaka fouled a lot off.
18:23 westbaystars: But that's it.
18:24 westbaystars: I'm not keeping score in my scorebook tonight.
18:24 westbaystars: I do normally count pitches, though.
18:24 Deanna: No, I mean in general. That was a 9-pitch at-bat according to Yahoo, but as I said yesterday, his at-bats take FOREVER
18:24 westbaystars: Inaba follows with a base hit through the left side.
18:24 westbaystars: Two out single.
18:24 westbaystars: Oh, no. I don't keep track of pitch data.
18:25 westbaystars: It's something I want to start keeping next season, though.
18:25 westbaystars: Seguignol, hitting as a DH tonight, comes up next.
18:25 Deanna: Yeah, me too.
18:25 Deanna: Yeah, lineup's about the same for the Fighters, but with Seguignol DH, Naoto at 1B, Koyano at 3B, no Tsuboi
18:26 westbaystars: And Ono gets ahead in the count 2 strikes, no balls. real quickly.
18:26 westbaystars: That's the same?
18:26 westbaystars: A pair of waste pitches.
18:26 westbaystars: Evens the count up at 2 and 2.
18:26 Deanna: it's just a one-player switch plus some position changes. Lotte put in Benny for DH instead of Hashimoto.
18:27 Deanna: yesterday Seguignol was 1B, Naoto 3B, Tsuboi DH.
18:27 westbaystars: Seggy fouls a couple more pitches off. Count remains 2 and 2 with a runner at first and 2 down.
18:27 westbaystars: Then swings and misses an outside pitch for strike three.
18:27 westbaystars: That retires the side.
18:28 Deanna: Oops
18:28 westbaystars: and after one complete, there's no score.
18:28 westbaystars: ---
18:28 westbaystars: Top of 2nd
18:28 westbaystars: ---
18:28 westbaystars: So, between classes right now?
18:29 Deanna: Yeah, next class at 7. I should probably go prepare stuff for it
18:29 Deanna: I'll check back later, maybe (I'll at least be looking at the score on my keitai between classes)
18:29 Deanna: [waves bananas]
18:29 westbaystars: Catch you later then.
18:30 westbaystars: Ortiz leads off the second inning.
18:30 westbaystars: And he grounds the second offering through the left side, base hit.
18:30 westbaystars: Leadoff man is aboard for the Marines here in the second inning.
18:31 westbaystars: Ohmatsu comes to the plate.
18:33 westbaystars: The 1 strike, 3 balls to pitch to Ohmatsu just catches the outside corner to bring the count full.
18:34 westbaystars: Shoubu pitch misses high and away, ball four.
18:35 westbaystars: So the Marines have runners at first and second with nobody out.
18:35 westbaystars: And walks are often costly.
18:35 westbaystars: That brings up DH Benny.
18:35 westbaystars: Batting .000 with an RBI in the Series.
18:35 westbaystars: He grounds the ball to the left side.
18:35 westbaystars: Kaneko up with the ball, throws to second for one.
18:36 westbaystars: The relay to first is in time.
18:36 westbaystars: Double play.
18:36 westbaystars: Ortiz moving to third.
18:36 westbaystars: I think that Benny hit into a team leading 12 double plays during the regular season.
18:36 westbaystars: Nonetheless, that brings up Imae.
18:37 westbaystars: With a runner at third and two down.
18:39 westbaystars: Sweeney throwing inside and out, but Imae fouling a few 2 strike, 1 ball pitches off.
18:39 westbaystars: Goes outside twice in a row, and almost gets Imae to swing at the ball in the dirt outside.
18:39 westbaystars: But the first base umpire says, no, he didn't go around.
18:39 westbaystars: That evens the count up a 2 and 2.
18:40 westbaystars: The next offing is grounded just left of second.
18:40 westbaystars: Kaneko fields the ball and fires to Inada at first.
18:40 westbaystars: The side is retired.
18:40 westbaystars: After 1 and a half, there's still no score.
18:40 westbaystars: ---
18:40 westbaystars: Bottom of 2nd
18:40 westbaystars: ---
18:42 westbaystars: Takahashi leads off the bottom of the second for the Fighters.
18:43 westbaystars: He grounds the ball to Imae at third.
18:43 westbaystars: Imae fields the ball backing up, but comes up firing to first for the out.
18:43 westbaystars: One away.
18:44 westbaystars: That brings up Kudoh.
18:44 westbaystars: Kudoh is batting .333 with 3 RBIs in the series.
18:44 westbaystars: But grounds the second pitch back to Ono on the mound.
18:44 westbaystars: Ono walks the ball part way to first before throwing it for out number two.
18:44 westbaystars: Koyano follows.
18:45 westbaystars: He grounds out to Fukuura unassisted on the second pitch, and it's a quick 1-2-3 inning for Ono.
18:45 westbaystars: After two complete, there's still no score.
18:45 westbaystars: ---
18:45 westbaystars: Top of 3rd
18:45 westbaystars: ---
18:47 westbaystars: The Marines will be sending up top batter Tsuyoshi to face Sweeney in the third.
18:47 westbaystars: Nishioka grounded out to shirt his first at bat.
18:48 westbaystars: And finds himself in the hole 2 strikes, no balls, real quick.
18:49 westbaystars: After taking a waste pitch, Tsuyoshi fouls a couple offerings off.
18:49 westbaystars: Then bunts the next offering foul for strike three.
18:49 westbaystars: That was wierd.
18:50 westbaystars: Hayakawa follows.
18:50 westbaystars: He doubled his first time up.
18:50 westbaystars: This time he grounds the ball up the middle.
18:50 westbaystars: The ball hits the inside of Sweeney's right foot, deflecting from short to second.
18:50 westbaystars: Tanaka fields the ball and throws to first in time for out number two.
18:51 westbaystars: Sweeney's OK, laughing the come backer off.
18:51 westbaystars: Fukuura follows.
18:51 westbaystars: He singled his first time at bat.
18:51 westbaystars: And grounds out to Inada at first unassisted to retire the side.
18:52 westbaystars: So it's 1-2-3 for the first time for the Marines this inning.
18:52 westbaystars: And we remain scoreless after 2 and a half.
18:52 westbaystars: ---
18:52 westbaystars: Bottom of 3rd
18:52 westbaystars: ---
18:54 westbaystars: #8 batter Inada leads off for the bottom of the third for the Fighters.
18:54 westbaystars: He breaks his bat with a ground ball to Imae at third.
18:54 westbaystars: Imae comes in, fields the ball, and throws to first in time for out number one.
18:55 westbaystars: Kaneko follows.
18:55 westbaystars: Ono frequently getting his first pitches over for strikes.
18:55 westbaystars: The second pitch is lifted weakly just right and behind the second base bag.
18:56 westbaystars: Ortiz calls Tsuyoshi off and makes the catch for out number two.
18:56 westbaystars: Four pitches, two outs in the third.
18:56 westbaystars: Back to the top of the order in Morimoto.
18:57 westbaystars: But Ono falls behind Hichori 1 strike, 3 balls, as he's not getting the outside corner calls.
18:57 westbaystars: So he comes right over the plate at the knees to bring the count full.
18:57 westbaystars: Morimoto finally takes the bat off his shoulder and lines the 6th offering up the middle for a base hit.
18:58 westbaystars: Two our runner is aboard for the Fighters.
18:58 westbaystars: That brings up .500 batting (in this Series) Tanaka.
19:00 westbaystars: But Tanaka lines the 1-1 pitch right back to Ono for the final out of the inning.
19:00 westbaystars: After three complete, we're still scoreless.
19:00 westbaystars: ---
19:00 westbaystars: Top of 4th
19:00 westbaystars: ---
19:01 westbaystars: Sweeney has thrown 45 pitches to 12 batters so far.
19:02 westbaystars: Saburo leads off for fourth.
19:02 westbaystars: His 1 RBI this Series was his solo home run in the second game.
19:02 westbaystars: of Stage Two.
19:03 westbaystars: And he's down 2 strikes, no balls in no time.
19:03 westbaystars: Waste pitch in the dirt.
19:03 westbaystars: Fourth offering grounded to the right of the second base bag.
19:04 westbaystars: Tanaka back hands the ball and throws to first time time.
19:04 westbaystars: One away.
19:04 westbaystars: That brings up Satozaki.
19:04 westbaystars: He's swinging at the first pitch, lifting the ball to right field.
19:04 westbaystars: Inaba had plenty of time to come in, camp under it, and make the catch for out number two.
19:05 westbaystars: So up comes Ortiz, who singled his first at bat tonight.
19:06 westbaystars: A big swing and miss on a 1 strike, 3 ball pitch outside.
19:06 westbaystars: Full count.
19:06 westbaystars: Two down, nobody on.
19:06 westbaystars: And the shoubu pitch is grounded to Koyano at third.
19:07 westbaystars: He fires across the diamond in plenty of time to retire the Marines 1-2-3.
19:07 westbaystars: After three and a half, we still have no score.
19:07 westbaystars: ---
19:07 westbaystars: Bottom of 4th
19:07 westbaystars: ---
19:09 westbaystars: Fighters send up Inaba, Seguignol, and Takahashi here in the fourth.
19:09 westbaystars: Inaba singled his first at bat, right after Tanaka was cut down trying to steal second.
19:10 westbaystars: With the count 1 and 1 on Inaba, Ono has now thrown 50 pitches.
19:10 westbaystars: His 52nd pitch is swung on and missed, strike three.
19:10 westbaystars: One down here in the bottom of the fourth.
19:11 westbaystars: That brings up Seguignol, who got his first hit of the Series last night.
19:11 westbaystars: And he gets his second hit right here, blooping the first pitch in front of the center fielder.
19:12 westbaystars: One out base runner is on for Takahashi.
19:13 westbaystars: And Takahashi goes after the first pitch, grounding it through the left side.
19:13 westbaystars: Back to back hits with one out here in the bottom of the fourth for the Fighters.
19:13 westbaystars: That brings up Kudoh, batting .300 in the Series so far.
19:15 westbaystars: Kudoh hits a 1 strike, 2 ball pitch up the middle, just bouncing in front of Hayakawa in center.
19:15 westbaystars: Seguignol holds up at third base.
19:15 westbaystars: That was Ono's 60th pitch of the game.
19:16 westbaystars: Koyano comes to bat with the bases loaded and one out.
19:16 westbaystars: But Koyano grounds the ball to Tsuyoshi at short.
19:16 westbaystars: He throws to Ortiz for one.
19:16 westbaystars: The relay to first is in plenty of time.
19:16 westbaystars: And the side is retired.
19:16 westbaystars: So the Fighters load the bases for their biggest threat this game.
19:16 westbaystars: But Ono gets out of it with one pitch to Koyano.
19:17 westbaystars: At the end of four complete, we remain knotted at zeros.
19:17 westbaystars: ---
19:17 westbaystars: Top of 5th
19:17 westbaystars: ---
19:18 westbaystars: Ohmatsu leads off the fifth for the Marines.
19:19 westbaystars: He takes a 1-1 pitch just inside the first base bag and into the corner.
19:19 westbaystars: By the time Inaba gets the ball back in, Ohmatsu is standing on second with a lead off double.
19:20 westbaystars: Benny follows. Hitless so far in the Climax Series. Hit into a double play his first at bat.
19:20 westbaystars: He shows bunt on the first pitch, but takes outside.
19:20 Tokyo Sox: tight one again huh ?
19:20 westbaystars: Yep. 0-0 in the 5th.
19:21 westbaystars: Both teams have had chances.
19:21 westbaystars: One or two apiece.
19:21 Tokyo Sox: saw your reply - so, if Lotte can find a way to pull this one out, we'll have Naruse vs Darvish in game 5?
19:21 westbaystars: Benny shows bunt again on the 1-1 offering. Takes it for strike two on the outside corner.
19:21 Tokyo Sox: that would be awesome
19:22 westbaystars: That't it.
19:22 westbaystars: Ball two in the dirt, Benny holding up.
19:22 westbaystars: Takahashi running the ball down between home and the pitcher, holding Ohmatsu at second.
19:22 westbaystars: The 2-2 offering misses low and away, full count.
19:23 westbaystars: Sweeney has gone full count more often than Ono tonight.
19:23 westbaystars: Shoubu pitch misses inside. Ball four.
19:23 westbaystars: The umpire had been calling inside pitches strikes earlier.
19:23 westbaystars: I think Sweeney and Takahashi thought they could get that one.
19:23 westbaystars: That brings up Imae.
19:24 Tokyo Sox: 1st & 2nd, no one down ?
19:24 westbaystars: So is that why nobody's showing up tonight? Everyone would rather see Naruse vs. Darvish?
19:24 westbaystars: That's the situation.
19:24 westbaystars: Imae bunts the ball in front of home plate.
19:24 westbaystars: Takahashi comes up throwing to third.
19:24 Tokyo Sox: haha, yeah ...Game 4? yaaaawn. bring on game 5 !!
19:25 westbaystars: And gets Ohmatsu!
19:25 westbaystars: But not by much.
19:25 Tokyo Sox: thats crap execution. cmon Imae !
19:25 westbaystars: Still, and out is an out.
19:25 westbaystars: Back to the top of the order in Tsuyoshi.
19:26 westbaystars: Sweeney in the hole 0 strikes, 3 balls.
19:27 westbaystars: Is he running out of gas?
19:27 westbaystars: Fourth offering called strike one on the outside corner.
19:27 westbaystars: You know anything close will be called a strike with that count.
19:28 westbaystars: Next offering swung on and missed - full count.
19:29 westbaystars: Shoubu pitch is taken low, ball four.
19:29 westbaystars: Bases are loaded, one out.
19:29 westbaystars: And it looks like Satoh-pitching coach is headed to the mound with the interpreter.
19:30 westbaystars: After having a short talk with Hillman-kantoku.
19:30 westbaystars: Speaking of whom, Hillman-kantoku comes out to talk with the umpire.
19:30 westbaystars: Sweeney is done after 72 pitches/19 batters.
19:31 westbaystars: The three runners on base are his responsiblity.
19:31 westbaystars: So he can get the loss, but not the win.
19:31 Tokyo Sox: Takeda coming in ?
19:31 westbaystars: Takeda comes running out of the dugout for the mound.
19:31 westbaystars: You called it.
19:31 westbaystars: How tall is he.
19:32 westbaystars: Half Sweeney's height?
19:32 Tokyo Sox: ? no idea
19:32 Tokyo Sox: ah, souiu imi ka
19:33 westbaystars: 178cm to 185. Looks like a lot more.
19:33 westbaystars: Nonetheless, Hayakawa come to bat.
19:34 westbaystars: He doubed his first at bat.
19:34 westbaystars: Takeda's first pitch misses low and inside.
19:35 westbaystars: Works the count to 2 and 2.
19:36 westbaystars: Takeda doesn't work nearly as fast as the two starters.
19:36 westbaystars: And he gets Hayakawa swinging and missing a low-inside pitch.
19:36 westbaystars: Two down, bases still loaded.
19:37 westbaystars: Fukuura coming to bat.
19:37 westbaystars: 1 for 2 so far tonight. .333 on the Series.
19:39 westbaystars: After fouling the first pitch off, Fukuura takes three straight low and away.
19:39 westbaystars: Takeda has to come in.
19:39 westbaystars: And he does, called strike two on the outside part of the plate.
19:39 westbaystars: Bases loaded, full count, two down.
19:40 westbaystars: Shoubu pitch is grounded back to Takeda.
19:40 westbaystars: And he throws it wide of first!
19:40 westbaystars: But Inada gets the ball and returns to first for the force.
19:40 westbaystars: Three down.
19:41 westbaystars: The Marines squander their second big chance of the evening. Will they get another?
19:42 westbaystars: ---
19:42 westbaystars: Bottom of 5th
19:42 westbaystars: ---
19:42 westbaystars: Inada leads off the bottom of the fifth for the Fighters.
19:42 westbaystars: Grounded out to third his first at bat.
19:42 westbaystars: Grounded the first pitch to the left side.
19:43 westbaystars: Tsuyoshi gets to the ball in the hole, but doesn't have a throw.
19:43 Tokyo Sox: exciting but cant believe i've gotta go run to client dinner! have a good night - i will check in tomorrow
19:43 westbaystars: Infield hit.
19:43 Tokyo Sox: hopefully for an exciting game 5
19:43 westbaystars: Take care.
19:44 westbaystars: Kaneko fouls the first pitch off at the plate.
19:44 westbaystars: The second bunt gets a little more distance, and the only play for Ono is to first.
19:45 westbaystars: The sacrifice is successful.
19:45 westbaystars: The Fighters have a man in scoring position with one out.
19:45 westbaystars: And the top of the order coming up in Morimoto.
19:45 westbaystars: Batting .429 in the Series.
19:45 westbaystars: Morimoto swings at the first pitch.
19:46 westbaystars: Inada is rounding third.
19:46 westbaystars: The third base coach is trying to stop him.
19:46 westbaystars: And does as the throw comes home.
19:46 westbaystars: Runners at the corners with one out.
19:46 westbaystars: And Valentine-kantoku comes out of the first base dugout.
19:46 westbaystars: Looks like a pitching change here in the bottom of the fifth.
19:47 westbaystars: Both managers going to the bull pen in the fifth.
19:47 westbaystars: Ono only threw 65 pitches to 19 batters.
19:47 westbaystars: And finds himself in a similar situation as Sweeney in the top of the inning.
19:48 westbaystars: Hillman-kantoku takes the third base coach aside and has a short conversation with him.
19:48 westbaystars: He leaves the dugout all smiles. Is a squeeze play in the works?
19:48 westbaystars: Kawasaki comes on to pitch.
19:49 westbaystars: Kawasaki's first offering to Tanaka Kensuke is swung on and missed.
19:50 westbaystars: The second offering is lifted to left field.
19:50 westbaystars: This will be deep enough.
19:50 Thomas: hi
19:50 westbaystars: And the throw is not in time. Run in.
19:51 westbaystars: Valentine-kantoku comes out and argues that the runner at third left too early.
19:51 westbaystars: Good evening/morning/afternoon.
19:51 westbaystars: The third base umpire says no, he did touch up.
19:51 westbaystars: The Fighters take a 1-0 lead.
19:52 westbaystars: Morimoto went to second on the throw home.
19:52 westbaystars: And Inaba comes up to the plate.
19:52 Thomas: thanks for the play by play report, don't get any kind of live pictures in here
19:53 westbaystars: As I've told others, write snail-mail letters to the teams appealing for international streams.
19:53 westbaystars: Addresses are in the FAQ.
19:53 Thomas: ah, that might be an idea, I'll try
19:53 Thomas: thx
19:54 westbaystars: 2 and 2, two down, runner at second. Two's are wild.
19:54 westbaystars: (My son really likes that.)
19:55 westbaystars: Inaba fouls off a couple 2-2 pitches.
19:56 westbaystars: After another foul ball, Inaba finally ends the inning by grounding out to Fukuura at first unassisted.
19:57 westbaystars: But, the Fighters finally capitalize on a chance and take a 1-0 lead.
19:57 westbaystars: ---
19:57 westbaystars: Top of 6th
19:57 westbaystars: ---
19:57 Thomas: but still... Fighters in the lead now
19:57 westbaystars: Grounds crews come out, and the stadium dances to YMCA.
19:58 westbaystars: I think that this is quickly becoming the common tradition at many parks like the 7th inning streach in MLB.
19:58 westbaystars: Yep. But I would really like to see Naruse vs. Darvish tomorrow.
19:58 Thomas: yes, definitely
19:59 Thomas: and I#m a marines fan...
19:59 westbaystars: For the PL, likewise.
20:01 Thomas: and advancing to the Japan series might be a boost to Sawamura-sho hopes as well
20:01 westbaystars: Takeda finishes up his warm up pitches, getting ready for his second inning of work.
20:01 westbaystars: He'll be facing #4, 5, and 6.
20:02 westbaystars: It's not supposed to count. But I think that the voters are easilly swayed by that.
20:03 westbaystars: Takeda in the hole no strikes, 3 balls.
20:03 westbaystars: And walks Saburo on four pitches.
20:03 Thomas: exactly
20:03 westbaystars: That brings up Satozaki.
20:03 westbaystars: I would think that they have the votes taken at the end of the season, then announce them later.
20:04 westbaystars: But I'm not sure that they do that.
20:04 westbaystars: Satozaki hits the ball deep to center.
20:04 westbaystars: Haittaaaaaaaaaaaa!
20:04 Thomas: we'll never really know anyway
20:04 westbaystars: Gyakuten 2-run home run by Satozaki!
20:04 Thomas: yeah
20:04 westbaystars: And it's so quiet!
20:05 Thomas: quiet?no Lotte fans at Sapporo dome?
20:05 westbaystars: Lotte's oendan has good volume and all, but it just doesn't seem to resonate like the Fighters'.
20:05 westbaystars: That's it for Takeda.
20:05 westbaystars: There are just a few sections in right field for the Lotte fans.
20:06 Thomas: I had been hoping for Satozaki, he's come up with big hits at crucial moments so often...
20:06 westbaystars: Fighter fans take up the entire stadium, including much of the right field stands.
20:06 Thomas: that makes all the difference^^
20:07 westbaystars: Hagiwara comes in to pitch for the Fighters.
20:08 westbaystars: Hiroshima Shimin Kyujyo is similar.
20:08 westbaystars: Ortiz steps in, and takes ball one low for Hagiwara's first offering.
20:08 Thomas: didn't pitch much in the season
20:08 westbaystars: Even for Giants' games at Hiroshima, the Giants fans are squeezed into a column or two of bleachers.
20:09 westbaystars: Oritz grounds the ball to the left side.
20:09 westbaystars: Kaneko dives, grabs the ball deep in the hole.
20:09 westbaystars: Stands and fires.
20:09 westbaystars: The one bounder is not in time.
20:09 westbaystars: But *close*.
20:10 westbaystars: Infield hit for Ortiz.
20:10 westbaystars: That brings up Ohmatsu.
20:11 westbaystars: No strikes, three balls to Ohmatsu.
20:11 westbaystars: Nobody out here in the top of the 6th.
20:11 westbaystars: With a runner at first.
20:12 Thomas: another walk then? last one to Saburo was the wrong decision
20:12 Thomas: obviously
20:12 westbaystars: Ball four low. Ohmatsu walks on four pitches.
20:12 westbaystars: Valentine-kantoku standing up and giving signs to his third base coach.
20:13 westbaystars: Who relays them to pinch hitter Watanabe.
20:13 westbaystars: Lotte has had two failed bunts so far this game.
20:13 westbaystars: Watanabe showing bunt, takes the first pitch low and away.
20:14 westbaystars: I don't think that Takeda really meant to walk Saburo. He was careful, maybe. Not not intentional.
20:14 westbaystars: Watanabe bunts the ball into the air up the first base side.
20:14 Thomas: ok
20:14 westbaystars: It drops in in front of Hagiwara, who throws to third for the force.
20:15 westbaystars: Failed sacrifice again.
20:15 Thomas: I really needed a stream...
20:15 westbaystars: Runners at first and second, one out now.
20:15 westbaystars: For those of you just joining us, the Fighters scored first on a sac fly in the bottom of the 5th.
20:16 westbaystars: Here in the top of the 6th, Saburo led off with a walk and Satozaki hit a 2-run home run.
20:16 westbaystars: Gyakuten in favor of the Marines.
20:16 westbaystars: Imae up to bat with runners at first and second, one out.
20:16 westbaystars: Imae lines the ball to Tanaka at second.
20:17 westbaystars: He throws to Kaneko at second to get the lead runner stranded between the bases.
20:17 westbaystars: Double play.
20:17 westbaystars: But not before the Marines take a 2-1 lead on Satozaki's 2-run home run.
20:17 westbaystars: ---
20:17 Thomas: damn
20:17 westbaystars: Bottom of 6th
20:17 westbaystars: ---
20:18 westbaystars: The line drive double play can't be helped.
20:18 westbaystars: But the failed sacrifice - the second time a runner was cut down at third - is unforgivable.
20:18 westbaystars: Seguignol leads off the Fighters' half of the sixth.
20:19 sportkrank: When does the Central League Series begin?
20:19 westbaystars: Kawasaki starting his second inning of relief.
20:19 westbaystars: Friday.
20:19 westbaystars: No, Thursday.
20:19 westbaystars: At Tokyo Dome.
20:19 westbaystars: I have a ticket to Saturday's game.
20:20 sportkrank: Thank you. I am checking in from Fairborn, OH just outside Dayton.
20:20 westbaystars: So I won't be doing that play by play.
20:20 Thomas: ah lucky you
20:20 westbaystars: Seggy flies out to Saburo in right for out number one.
20:20 sportkrank: I just have to wait for the results
20:21 westbaystars: So the time isn't too bad there? A little after 7:00 am?
20:21 westbaystars: Catcher Takahashi follows.
20:21 sportkrank: Yes. Thank you for the updates and the great website. I've been following it for years.
20:21 westbaystars: [See update above]
20:22 westbaystars: Takahashi lifts the ball high toward left.
20:22 westbaystars: Tsuyoshi, Imae, and Ohmatsu gather.
20:22 Thomas: I just have to agree with sportkrank, though I just found it lately
20:22 westbaystars: And when the ball finally comes down, it's Tsuyoshi who makes the catch for out number two.
20:22 westbaystars: Kudoh comes to the plate.
20:23 westbaystars: I recognise the name (sportkrank), but haven't seen it lately.
20:23 westbaystars: Kudoh goes down swinging for out number three.
20:24 westbaystars: The Fighters go down in order for the first time in a while.
20:24 westbaystars: First time since the second inning.
20:24 westbaystars: After six complete now, the Marines lead this one by a score of 2-1.
20:24 westbaystars: ===
20:25 westbaystars: Update:
20:25 westbaystars: Fighters scored their run in the fifth inning.
20:25 westbaystars: A sacrifice fly with runners at the corners.
20:25 westbaystars: Lotte came back in the top of the sixth.
20:25 westbaystars: Lead off walk to Saburo.
20:25 westbaystars: Then gyakuten 2-run home run to center by Satozaki.
20:25 westbaystars: ===
20:25 westbaystars: ---
20:26 westbaystars: Top of 7th
20:26 westbaystars: ---
20:26 westbaystars: Tsuyoshi leads off the 7th for the Marines.
20:26 westbaystars: He's swinging at the first pitch, lifting the ball to left center.
20:26 westbaystars: Morimoti comes over and makes the catch for out number one.
20:26 westbaystars: One pitch, one out.
20:27 westbaystars: That brings up Hayakawa.
20:28 westbaystars: No strikes, 3 balls to Hayakawa.
20:28 westbaystars: And Hagiwara walks Hayakawa on four straight pitches.
20:28 westbaystars: That brings Satoh-pitching coach slowly out of the third base dugout.
20:28 westbaystars: With Hillman-kantoku following behind toward the home plate umpire.
20:29 westbaystars: Yamamoto is announced as the new pitcher.
20:30 Thomas: 6.75 ERA in 21.1 innings over the season
20:31 westbaystars: Fukuura stands in.
20:31 westbaystars: Yamamoto's first pitch misses low and away for ball one.
20:32 westbaystars: Not a good start for Yamamoto.
20:32 westbaystars: Fukuura grounds the next pitch through the right side.
20:32 westbaystars: Base hit!
20:32 westbaystars: That loads the bases for the Marines.
20:33 westbaystars: And we'll have another pitching change.
20:33 Thomas: wow, that was quick
20:33 westbaystars: The other Takeda is announced.
20:34 jgribbins: Bases loaded?
20:35 westbaystars: Yes, bases loaded, one out.
20:35 Thomas: only two runners, I guess
20:35 westbaystars: I've seen this before.
20:35 westbaystars: Heh?
20:35 westbaystars: Have I lost count?
20:35 Thomas: as Tsuyoshi had a fly
20:35 Thomas: Hayakawa walked
20:36 Thomas: and Fukuura hit
20:36 westbaystars: Oh, fly out, walk, hit. You're right.
20:36 westbaystars: So, Hisashi Takeda on the mound.
20:37 Thomas: so 1st and 2nd or 1st and 3rd?
20:37 westbaystars: First pitch to Saburo, with runners at first and second, is swung on and missed.
20:37 westbaystars: Strike one.
20:38 westbaystars: Saburo grounds the ball through the left side, base hit!
20:38 westbaystars: The runner is held at third.
20:38 westbaystars: *Now* the bases are loaded.
20:38 westbaystars: With one out.
20:38 westbaystars: And gyakuten home run hitting Satozaki coming to the plate.
20:39 Thomas: so I can hope for tsuika-ten
20:39 westbaystars: 3 home runs in the Climax Series so far, 5 RBIs.
20:39 westbaystars: He's come through a number of times.
20:39 Thomas: who had two homeruns on Sunday already...
20:40 westbaystars: On Sunday it was Satozaki (twice), Saburo, and Hayakawa.
20:41 westbaystars: Two strikes, one ball to Satozaki with the bases loaded, one out.
20:41 westbaystars: Fourth offering fouled off and out of play behind the back stop.
20:41 Thomas: don't forget Ortiz
20:42 westbaystars: Oh, yea. Ortiz hit one back to back with Satozaki.
20:42 westbaystars: Thanks.
20:42 westbaystars: 2-2 pitch taken for strike three.
20:42 westbaystars: Two down.
20:43 westbaystars: That brings up Ortiz.
20:43 westbaystars: 2 for 3 tonight.
20:43 westbaystars: Swinging at the first pitch.
20:43 westbaystars: Lifts the ball to shallow center field.
20:43 westbaystars: Where it's caught for out number three.
20:44 westbaystars: The Marines blow their second bases loaded, one out chance of the game.
20:44 jgribbins: Bobby V. must be upset!
20:44 westbaystars: I'm sure he'd rather have a blow out.
20:44 westbaystars: ---
20:44 westbaystars: Bottom of 7th
20:44 westbaystars: ---
20:44 jgribbins: How do Fighter fans feel about Hillman leaving?
20:44 Thomas: once again... and now comes the yesterday-devastating bottom of the seventh
20:45 westbaystars: I'm not sure about how Fighters fans feel. The press is concentrating on the search for a new manager.
20:45 westbaystars: Koyano will be leading off the Fighters' Lucky Seven.
20:47 westbaystars: ===
20:47 westbaystars: Scoring recap
20:47 westbaystars: Bottom of 5th:
20:47 westbaystars: Sac fly by Tanaka puts the Fighters on the board first - 1-0.
20:47 westbaystars: Top of 6th.
20:47 westbaystars: Saburo led off with a walk, Satozaki hit a 2-run home run.
20:47 westbaystars: ===
20:48 westbaystars: Koyano leads off the bottom of the 6th grounding out to second.
20:48 westbaystars: One out.
20:48 westbaystars: Inaba coming to the plate.
20:48 westbaystars: Kawasaki on the mound for the Marines.
20:48 zman: Thanks westbay-san
20:48 westbaystars: He came in with one out in the fifth.
20:49 westbaystars: Sweeney was similarly taken out with one out in the fifth - after loading the bases.
20:49 westbaystars: M. Takeda got him out of that pinch.
20:49 westbaystars: But is now on the hook for the loss with the two batters he faced in the 6th.
20:50 westbaystars: Inaba fouls out to Imae at third.
20:50 westbaystars: Two away for the Fighters in the seventh.
20:50 westbaystars: That was Inada, not Inaba.
20:50 westbaystars: Kaneko follows.
20:51 westbaystars: My fingers are no better than my toungue with those two.
20:51 westbaystars: One strike, three balls to Kaneko.
20:51 westbaystars: Swing and a miss. Full count.
20:52 westbaystars: The shoubu pitch is stroked into left field for a base hit.
20:52 westbaystars: The Fighters have a two out base runner here in the seventh.
20:52 westbaystars: With top batter Morino coming up next.
20:53 westbaystars: Morino is 2 for 3 so far tonight.
20:53 westbaystars: Reaches for and misses the first pitch low and away.
20:53 westbaystars: I think his last two hits were on the first pitch.
20:54 Thomas: and he hasn't faced Kawasaki yet today
20:55 westbaystars: The Marines have stranded 10 runners so far this game, with just 2 runs to show for it.
20:55 westbaystars: The Fighters have only stranded 5.
20:56 westbaystars: Full count as Morimoto takes an awfully close 6th offering.
20:56 westbaystars: Valentine-kantoku discussing pitchers in the dugout with his coaches.
20:56 westbaystars: Shoubu pitch is grounded to the left side.
20:56 westbaystars: It's deflected off of Imae's glove.
20:56 westbaystars: Tsuyoshi fields the ball.
20:57 westbaystars: Nobody's covering thrid!
20:57 westbaystars: The runner tries.
20:57 westbaystars: Kawasaki comes over.
20:57 westbaystars: The throw is in time.
20:57 westbaystars: He's touched out!
20:57 westbaystars: Infield hit, runner tagged out at third.
20:57 Thomas: phew
20:58 westbaystars: The Fighters have been agressive on the base paths this Series.
20:58 westbaystars: But it bit them there.
20:58 westbaystars: At the end of seven complete now, the Marines hold on to a 2-1 lead.
20:58 westbaystars: ---
20:58 westbaystars: Top of 8th
20:58 westbaystars: ---
20:59 westbaystars: H. Takeda starts his second inning of work.
20:59 westbaystars: He'll be facing the bottom of the Marines' order in Ohmatsu.
21:00 westbaystars: After Ohmatsu is Watanabe and Imae.
21:00 westbaystars: Ohmatsu slices a line drive right to Kudoh in left.
21:00 westbaystars: One away.
21:01 westbaystars: Pinch hitter Hashimoto comes in for Watanabe.
21:01 westbaystars: Watanabe was a pinch hitter for Benny, and failed to sacrifice a couple inning ago.
21:01 westbaystars: Hashimoto quickly in the hole 2 strikes, no balls.
21:02 westbaystars: Whooo. Third pitch was close, just outside.
21:03 westbaystars: Hashimoto drives the ball to the left-center gap.
21:03 westbaystars: One bound, two bounds, and off the wall.
21:03 westbaystars: He comes into second base with a one out stand up double.
21:03 westbaystars: That brings up Imae.
21:04 westbaystars: 0 for 3 so far tonight.
21:04 westbaystars: He grounds the ball to the left side.
21:04 westbaystars: Hashimoto goes sliding back into second in front of Kaneko who fielded the ball close.
21:04 westbaystars: The throw to first is in time to cut down Imae.
21:05 westbaystars: Two down, runner at second.
21:05 westbaystars: Top of the order in Tsuyoshi coming to the plate.
21:05 westbaystars: [Update to come at the end of the inning]
21:06 westbaystars: [For the time being, Lotte is leading 2-1.]
21:06 westbaystars: Tsuyoshi completely fooled on Takeda's third offering.
21:06 westbaystars: Two strikes, one ball.
21:07 westbaystars: Tsuyoshi grounds the ball to Inada at first.
21:07 westbaystars: Inada takes the ball to the bag himself, and the side is retired.
21:07 westbaystars: ===
21:07 westbaystars: Scoring Recap
21:07 westbaystars: Bottom of 5th
21:08 westbaystars: With runners at the corners, Tanaka hit a fly ball to left field.
21:08 westbaystars: That scored the runner from third.
21:08 westbaystars: Valentine-kantoku protested that the runner left early, but no change.
21:08 westbaystars: Nippon Ham took a 1-0 lead.
21:08 westbaystars: .
21:08 westbaystars: Top of 6th
21:08 westbaystars: Saburo leads off drawing a base on balls.
21:09 westbaystars: Satozaki follows with a gyakuten 2-run home run.
21:09 westbaystars: Marines up 2-1.
21:09 westbaystars: And that's where we are.
21:09 westbaystars: ===
21:09 westbaystars: ---
21:09 westbaystars: Bottom of 8th
21:09 westbaystars: ---
21:09 westbaystars: Yabuta takes the mound for the Marines.
21:10 westbaystars: Ohtsuka comes in the game in the outfield somewhere.
21:10 westbaystars: Tanaka will be leading off the Fighters' half of the eighth.
21:11 westbaystars: 1 for 2 tonight with a sacrifice fly.
21:11 westbaystars: Swings at the first pitch.
21:11 nanbanjin: great running!
21:11 westbaystars: Fukuura dashes for the bag.
21:11 westbaystars: Slides in - too late!
21:11 westbaystars: Tanaka beats Fukuura to the bag.
21:12 westbaystars: One pitch, runner at first.
21:12 NipponHam11: hello everybody
21:12 westbaystars: And that brings up Inaba.
21:12 NipponHam11: US history class was cancelled, so I get to listen in ^_^
21:12 westbaystars: Inaba also swinging at the first pitch, but hits a dribble foul up the first base side.
21:13 westbaystars: Second offering fouled off to the left side and out of play.
21:13 westbaystars: [See recap shortly above]
21:13 westbaystars: Third offering *just* missed inside for ball one.
21:13 NipponHam11: if there's somebody who can get a clutch hit for Nippon Ham, it's Inaba
21:14 westbaystars: Two more misses. Full count.
21:14 westbaystars: Tanaka's been thrown out attempting to steal once tonight.
21:14 westbaystars: Will he be going?
21:14 westbaystars: Yes. But it's ball four inside.
21:15 westbaystars: Runners at first and second, Seguignol coming up, nobody out.
21:15 westbaystars: And he's not up there to bunt.
21:15 westbaystars: Seggy has a hit in three tries so far tonight.
21:15 NipponHam11: never is
21:15 Thomas: maybe they should have kept Kawasaki on the mound
21:16 nanbanjin: vamos Seguignol, show us why you're #4!
21:16 westbaystars: The bananas are out.
21:16 westbaystars: Anyone want to wave one for Deanna?
21:16 westbaystars: Two strikes and a ball the count.
21:16 zman: What a great game this is, little bit of everything
21:16 NipponHam11: haha
21:17 nanbanjin: [waves banana]
21:17 NipponHam11: opponents batting .268 against Yabuta in the Regular Season
21:17 nanbanjin: booh
21:17 westbaystars: Next offering, swung on and missed.
21:17 westbaystars: Strike three.
21:17 Thomas: phew
21:17 westbaystars: One away, runners still at first and second.
21:17 NipponHam11: Seguinol is a high-risk, high-reward swinger
21:17 Thomas: heart rate is going up...
21:17 westbaystars: Takahashi coming to the plate.
21:17 NipponHam11: either it's out of the park, an extra-base hit, or nothing
21:17 westbaystars: Takahashi is 1 for 2 with a sacrifice bunt.
21:18 westbaystars: First pitch taken for strike one.
21:18 NipponHam11: with 1 out, we could see another
21:18 NipponHam11: especially to take the double play out of order
21:19 westbaystars: Second offering called strike two on the outside corner.
21:19 westbaystars: Next offering grounded back to the pitcher.
21:19 westbaystars: He double pumps to second, waiting for a fielder.
21:19 nanbanjin: phew, almost got double play-ed there
21:19 westbaystars: Finally throws for one.
21:20 westbaystars: The relay to first is *not* in time.
21:20 westbaystars: Runners at first and third, two outs.
21:20 westbaystars: Battter is Kudoh.
21:20 westbaystars: Fouls the first pitch back.
21:20 westbaystars: Runner at first being changed.
21:21 westbaystars: #39.
21:21 westbaystars: Kawashima comes in to pinch run at first.
21:21 westbaystars: That's the go ahead runner.
21:21 NipponHam11: the double-clutch killed the potential 1-6-3 double play
21:21 NipponHam11: let's see if that proves costly
21:21 nanbanjin: how is Kudo today?
21:21 westbaystars: Second offering swung on and fouled out of play to the left side.
21:21 westbaystars: Two quick strikes on Kudoh.
21:21 NipponHam11: #39 is Kawashima
21:22 westbaystars: Third offering way up high. Waste pitch.
21:22 westbaystars: Kudoh is 1 for 3 so far tonight.
21:22 westbaystars: Yabuta on the mound for the Marines.
21:22 nanbanjin: I see, thanks for the data update
21:23 westbaystars: And Yabuta gets Kudoh on strikes.
21:23 nanbanjin: iya-
21:23 westbaystars: The side is retired.
21:23 Thomas: 3 to go...
21:23 westbaystars: At the end of eight complete, the Marines hold onto a 2-1 lead.
21:23 nanbanjin: no outs 1st and 2nd datta no ni
21:23 NipponHam11: ouch
21:23 westbaystars: ====
21:24 westbaystars: Game Scoring Recap
21:24 westbaystars: Bottom of 5th:
21:24 Thomas: but the Marines wasted even better chances
21:24 westbaystars: Fighters score first on sacrifice fly by Tanaka.
21:24 westbaystars: .
21:24 westbaystars: Top of 6th:
21:24 westbaystars: Marines come back with leadoff walk to Saburo followed by 2-run home run by Satozaki.
21:24 westbaystars: ====
21:24 westbaystars: ---
21:24 westbaystars: Top of 9th
21:24 westbaystars: ---
21:25 NipponHam11: so if the Marines do force a decisive Game 5, who would pitch?
21:25 NipponHam11: I'm guessing Darvish for the Fighters
21:25 Thomas: Naruse vs. Darvish, I reckon
21:25 westbaystars: The score is 11 - 8 in runners stranded. Marines in the lead.
21:25 NipponHam11: epic pitcher's duel there, at least on paper
21:26 westbaystars: Micheal [sic] takes the mound.
21:26 Thomas: so it's gonna be hell of a pitching duel
21:26 Thomas: but anyway... still a long, long inning to go
21:26 westbaystars: Naruse vs. Darvish. There's no doubt about this one.
21:26 westbaystars: Micheal's first offering misses outside. Ball one.
21:27 westbaystars: Second offering, swung on and missed. 1 and 1.
21:27 NipponHam11: ok, for some wacky reason I thought Naruse was pitching today
21:27 westbaystars: Next offering fouled up the first base line. Two strikes and a ball.
21:27 westbaystars: Nakajima takes over behind the plate.
21:28 westbaystars: Everyone figured he would. But it was announced that Ono was pitching after last night's game.
21:28 westbaystars: You must not have read the game log.
21:28 Thomas: I thought otherwise
21:28 westbaystars: 2 and 2 now the count.
21:28 westbaystars: Hayakawa fouls another one back to the backstop.
21:28 Thomas: with Darvish pitching tomorrow, they'd need someone who could shut the fighters out
21:29 westbaystars: Micheal's got to work hard for this first batter.
21:29 Thomas: so use the weaker pitcher today and the better tomorrow...
21:29 westbaystars: Another 2-2 offering is looped into left field for a lead off base hit.
21:29 westbaystars: The Marines are on the move.
21:29 NipponHam11: of course
21:29 westbaystars: That'll bring up Fukuura.
21:29 Thomas: as 1-3 and 2-3 in the series are not really a difference
21:30 westbaystars: First pitch to Fukuura fouled off to the left side.
21:31 westbaystars: Second pitch called strike two up and over the outer part of the plate.
21:31 westbaystars: Third offering is in the dirt.
21:31 westbaystars: Good job by Nakajima to keep the ball from getting away.
21:32 westbaystars: Fourth offering a come backer.
21:32 westbaystars: Micheal dodges the ball, and it sails over the second base bag and into center field.
21:32 westbaystars: Furst two base runners are on board for the Marines in the 9th.
21:32 westbaystars: 猛打賞for Fukuura.
21:33 westbaystars: "Super Batting Award" is when a batter gets at least three hits in a game.
21:33 westbaystars: Saburo bunting the first pitch?
21:34 westbaystars: Fouls it off up the third base line.
21:34 westbaystars: Both sacrifice attempts by the Marines have failed so far tonight.
21:34 westbaystars: The runner being cut down at third both times.
21:35 westbaystars: Second pitch taken for strike two on the outside corner. No sign of bunt.
21:35 NipponHam11: they're persistent, I'll give them that
21:35 westbaystars: Fouled off the next pitch out of play to the right side.
21:35 westbaystars: This is a lot of pitches for Micheal.
21:36 westbaystars: Next pitches misses just down low. Ball one.
21:36 NipponHam11: is Micheal leaving his pitches up in the zone?
21:36 westbaystars: Next offering is lined into right field.
21:36 westbaystars: Third base coach holds the runner.
21:36 westbaystars: And Inaba sends a lazer beam to home.
21:37 westbaystars: Getting "ooo"s from the audience.
21:37 westbaystars: Nobody out for the Marines.
21:38 westbaystars: That brings up Satozaki with the bases loaded for the second time tonight.
21:38 Thomas: best chance for scoring all night...
21:38 zman: bags are loaded again
21:38 westbaystars: Two quick strikes on the Marines' catcher.
21:38 westbaystars: And Series Home Run King so far.
21:38 westbaystars: Third time for Lotte.
21:39 westbaystars: They have yet to score with the basesd loaded.
21:39 westbaystars: And they do!
21:39 westbaystars: Satozaki throws the bat out there and pops the ball up to shallow center.
21:39 westbaystars: The ball is too low for anyone to get to!
21:39 westbaystars: It drops in for a base hit.
21:39 westbaystars: All the runners move up one base.
21:40 westbaystars: And Lotte has a 3-1 lead.
21:40 westbaystars: That brings up Ortiz, still with nobody out and the bases loaded.
21:40 Thomas: yay
21:40 zman: Satozaki has the luck tonight
21:40 Thomas: and still no out, based loaded
21:40 westbaystars: Two strikes, one ball to Ortiz.
21:41 westbaystars: Micheal has thrown 22 pitches so far this inning.
21:41 westbaystars: Fourth offering misses inside, 2 and 2.
21:41 westbaystars: The 2-2 pitch is grounded up the middle.
21:41 westbaystars: One run in.
21:41 nanbanjin: ok, this game is over
21:42 westbaystars: Two runs in.
21:42 westbaystars: The Marines finally break through with five hits in a row.
21:42 Thomas: not yet... remember the 7th yesterday
21:42 westbaystars: And that prompts Satoh-pitching coach to come to the mound.
21:42 zman: Michael is going to give Kubota a run for the highest ERA in the playoffs
21:42 westbaystars: And Hillman-kantoku is headed toward the home plate umpire.
21:42 westbaystars: We've got a pitching change.
21:43 NipponHam11: yup, it's over, Game 5 tomorrow night
21:43 westbaystars: Well, Valentine-kantoku will probably go with Kobayashi to close.
21:43 westbaystars: And with very few exceptions (Sunday being one), Kobayashi does poorly when I watch.
21:43 zman: Should be a classic tomorrow
21:44 zman: Great baseball!
21:44 Thomas: Kobamasa spoiled a couple of games this year
21:44 Thomas: and spoiled the 3rd game of the 2nd stage of playoffs in 2005
21:44 Thomas: when he lost a 4-0 lead
21:44 westbaystars: I'm fairly sure I saw them both.
21:45 Thomas: and finally walked the sayonara-run in
21:45 westbaystars: And a couple of close breathers that he just managed to finish.
21:45 Thomas: they even stopped using him as closer for some time and took Yabutra instead
21:46 westbaystars: Kikuchi comes in to pitch for the Fighters.
21:46 Thomas: not in his best form this year
21:46 westbaystars: Right handed pinch hitter Hori comes to the plate.
21:47 westbaystars: And on the first pitch, with Hori bunting through a high pitch,
21:47 westbaystars: Satozaki gets caught in no-man's land between second and third.
21:47 westbaystars: He's touched out for out number one.
21:47 westbaystars: Runner at first, one out now.
21:47 westbaystars: the next offering is driven to straight away center, right to Hichori.
21:48 westbaystars: And with two pitches, Kikuchi has two outs.
21:48 westbaystars: My bad luck with Masa goes back a couple of years.
21:48 westbaystars: Hashimoto comes up next.
21:48 zman: bobby's gambles are not working tonight
21:48 westbaystars: He came in the game as a pinch hitter and hit a double.
21:49 Thomas: when I stayed in Japan for the last time, all live games he pitched gread
21:49 westbaystars: Moving runners along certaily hasn't worked out for Lotte.
21:49 Thomas: only when I couldn't get to the stadium...
21:49 westbaystars: 2 and 2 the couint to Hashimoto.
21:50 zman: that last play looked like bunt and run
21:50 zman: with the hitter missing the ball
21:50 westbaystars: Inada fields a high hopper toward his face at first base.
21:50 westbaystars: Turns, and steps on the bag for the final out.
21:51 westbaystars: But, not before the Marines came up with three runs in the 9th.
21:51 westbaystars: To take a 5-1 lead.
21:51 westbaystars: ---
21:51 westbaystars: Bottom of 9th
21:51 westbaystars: ---
21:51 westbaystars: Bunt and run makes sense with the batter going after a pitch that high.
21:52 westbaystars: Masahide Kobayashi is announced.
21:52 westbaystars: And takes the mound.
21:54 zman: The Hammies are hitting 294 in the series, so they can get hits no runs in this game
21:54 westbaystars: Koyano will be leading off the Fighters' last change, batting .091 in the Series.
21:54 westbaystars: 0 for 3 tonight.
21:54 westbaystars: Fouls the first pitch back to the back stop. Strike one.
21:55 westbaystars: Second offering just misses outside. 1 and 1.
21:55 westbaystars: 1-1 offering misses just low.
21:55 westbaystars: Masa is trying to finesse too much.
21:55 westbaystars: Next offering is fouled off to the right side. 2 and 2.
21:56 westbaystars: And it's strike three swinging at the next inside pitch.
21:56 westbaystars: One away.
21:56 westbaystars: Sapporo fans still on their feet.
21:56 westbaystars: As Inada comes to the plate.
21:56 westbaystars: 1 for 3 tonight.
21:57 Thomas: two to go
21:57 zman: two 300 plus hitters now followed by two 500 hitters in the series
21:57 westbaystars: Two quick strikes on Inada without taking the bat off his shoulder.
21:57 westbaystars: Waste pitch up and away. 2 strikes, 1 ball.
21:57 westbaystars: Next pitch fouled back. Count remains 2 strikes, 1 ball.
21:58 westbaystars: And Inada swings late at a high pitch.
21:58 westbaystars: Strike three.
21:58 westbaystars: 後一人。
21:58 westbaystars: Tsuboi is annouced as the pinch hitter.
21:59 westbaystars: 1 RBI in the Series despite a .000 batting average.
21:59 westbaystars: 1 and 1 the count as Masa works quickly.
21:59 westbaystars: Third offering fouled off to the left side.
21:59 zman: No kidding
22:00 zman: He is like a machine in the batting cages
22:00 westbaystars: And the next offering just misses up and away.
22:00 westbaystars: 2 and 2, 2 down, nobody on.
22:00 westbaystars: Next pitch is grounded to Fukuura at first.
22:00 westbaystars: He underhands the ball to Masa covering.
22:00 westbaystars: And the side is retired a minute before the four hour mark.
22:01 westbaystars: The Chiba Lotte Marines win this one by a score of 5-1.
22:01 westbaystars: Despite this being a close game all the way to the end.
22:01 zman: Hope the ratings jump for the game tomorrow.
22:01 jgribbins: What is game time tomorrow?
22:01 Thomas: so fine work by Kobamasa today
22:01 Thomas: and tomorrow's gonna be a real grand finale
22:01 westbaystars: Does anyone here need a recap of the scoring?
22:02 westbaystars: Not tomorrow.
22:02 Thomas: I think the team winning has great chances to claim the Japan series
22:02 westbaystars: Day after tomorrow.
22:02 westbaystars: 6:00.
22:02 zman: OK
22:02 Thomas: oh yeah, you're right
22:02 Thomas: even better for me
22:02 jgribbins: Thanks! I will be here...
22:02 zman: And when do the dragons and giants start?
22:02 westbaystars: Satozaki is the game hero.
22:02 Thomas: as tomorrow I could only come in late
22:03 westbaystars: Any surprises there?
22:03 nanbanjin: Thursday game will be great
22:03 Thomas: the gyakuten homerun^^
22:03 westbaystars: They also start on Thursday (JST).
22:03 nanbanjin: looking forward to it
22:03 westbaystars: So both games will be on at the same time.
22:03 Thomas: I wish I had Japanese TV...
22:03 westbaystars: I'll open chats for both, but will be in the Pacific League one.
22:03 nanbanjin: see y'all on Thursday
22:03 zman: OH NO?
22:04 Thomas: so, I gotta leave, thank you again for the great coverage
22:04 westbaystars: My pleasure. Take care.
22:04 Thomas: ja mata ne
22:04 westbaystars: zman: Oh no?
22:05 westbaystars: Is there a problem with Thursday?
22:05 westbaystars: Satozaki wants some revenge against Darvish.
22:06 westbaystars: He's saying that Naruto will be throwing the final game.
22:06 westbaystars: They didn't travel to Sapporo to lose.
22:08 westbaystars: I guess that wraps it up for today.
22:08 westbaystars: I'll be posting the full game log shortly.
22:08 westbaystars: Thanks all for joining me.
22:09 westbaystars: Hope to see you all back for the final on Thursday.
22:09 westbaystars: Take care.
I'm sure that all of us are anxiously looking forward to Thursday's (yes, there's one day off) face off between Naruse and Darvish. The biggest question most of you will face is, do I attend the PL or CL chat room on Thursday night? I'll be working the PL final. If I can find a volunteer to call the Chunichi vs. Giants game, that'd be great.
In the mean time, here's the full game log of Stage 2 Game 4 for your enjoyment.
TRANSCRIPT generated on 2007/10/16
CHATROOM 2007 Pacific League Climax Series/Stage 2 Game 4
17:04 bobba: has the game started yet?
17:56 Deanna: Yup, Ono vs. Sweeney. I'll try to come back in a bit.
18:02 westbaystars: Sweeny takes the mound for the Fighters tonight.
18:03 westbaystars: Tsuyoshi leads off grounding out to Kaneko at short.
18:03 westbaystars: One away.
18:04 westbaystars: That brings up Hayakawa who hits the ball over Morimoto's head.
18:04 westbaystars: The ball bounces just short of the wall, Hichori fielding the rebound.
18:04 westbaystars: And Hayakawa cruizes into second with a stand up double.
18:04 westbaystars: Fukuura follows.
18:07 westbaystars: Fukuura grounds a 2-2 pitch through the right side, base hit!
18:07 westbaystars: Hayakawa rounds third, but is held.
18:07 westbaystars: Runners at the corners with one out.
18:07 westbaystars: That brings up Saburo.
18:09 westbaystars: Strike three called on the inside corner for out number two.
18:09 westbaystars: The catcher setup inside, and Sweeney put it right into his mit.
18:10 westbaystars: I think it was a ball, but Sweeney did a great job putting the ball into the cather's glove.
18:10 westbaystars: Satozaki follows with runners at first and third, two down.
18:11 westbaystars: Satozaki grounds the ball to Koyano at third.
18:11 westbaystars: He pumps once, then fires to second for the force.
18:11 westbaystars: And the side is retired.
18:12 westbaystars: The Marines got put runners at the corners with one out, but come up empty in the first.l
18:12 westbaystars: ---
18:12 westbaystars: Bottom of 1st
18:12 westbaystars: ---
18:13 westbaystars: Morimoto will be leading off for the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters.
18:14 westbaystars: Facing Ono Shingo.
18:14 westbaystars: Ono's first pitch misses way up high for ball one.
18:15 westbaystars: Morimoto goes down swinging on four pitches. One away.
18:15 westbaystars: That brings up Tanaka.
18:15 westbaystars: Batting .462 in the Series so far.
18:17 westbaystars: After fouling off a few 2 strike, 1 ball pitches, Tanaka takes ball two in the dirt.
18:17 westbaystars: 2 and 2.
18:17 westbaystars: Ono misses with the next pitch, full count.
18:19 westbaystars: After fouling another pitch off, Tanaka goes the other way and lines the ball into left-center field for a base hit.
18:19 westbaystars: One away, runner at first.
18:19 westbaystars: That'll bring up Inaba.
18:19 westbaystars: Batting .455 on the Series.
18:21 westbaystars: For a right hander, Ono has a great pick off move to first.
18:21 westbaystars: Almost got Tanaka a couple of times.
18:23 Deanna: I'm just stopping in for a second, but, I don't suppose you have data on how many pitches each batter has seen?
18:23 westbaystars: Tanaka is on the run.
18:23 Deanna: I swear Kensuke Tanaka is leading the PL
18:23 westbaystars: And Satozaki nails him at second.
18:23 Deanna: Oops.
18:23 westbaystars: By a good meter or two.
18:23 westbaystars: I know that Tanaka fouled a lot off.
18:23 westbaystars: But that's it.
18:24 westbaystars: I'm not keeping score in my scorebook tonight.
18:24 westbaystars: I do normally count pitches, though.
18:24 Deanna: No, I mean in general. That was a 9-pitch at-bat according to Yahoo, but as I said yesterday, his at-bats take FOREVER
18:24 westbaystars: Inaba follows with a base hit through the left side.
18:24 westbaystars: Two out single.
18:24 westbaystars: Oh, no. I don't keep track of pitch data.
18:25 westbaystars: It's something I want to start keeping next season, though.
18:25 westbaystars: Seguignol, hitting as a DH tonight, comes up next.
18:25 Deanna: Yeah, me too.
18:25 Deanna: Yeah, lineup's about the same for the Fighters, but with Seguignol DH, Naoto at 1B, Koyano at 3B, no Tsuboi
18:26 westbaystars: And Ono gets ahead in the count 2 strikes, no balls. real quickly.
18:26 westbaystars: That's the same?
18:26 westbaystars: A pair of waste pitches.
18:26 westbaystars: Evens the count up at 2 and 2.
18:26 Deanna: it's just a one-player switch plus some position changes. Lotte put in Benny for DH instead of Hashimoto.
18:27 Deanna: yesterday Seguignol was 1B, Naoto 3B, Tsuboi DH.
18:27 westbaystars: Seggy fouls a couple more pitches off. Count remains 2 and 2 with a runner at first and 2 down.
18:27 westbaystars: Then swings and misses an outside pitch for strike three.
18:27 westbaystars: That retires the side.
18:28 Deanna: Oops
18:28 westbaystars: and after one complete, there's no score.
18:28 westbaystars: ---
18:28 westbaystars: Top of 2nd
18:28 westbaystars: ---
18:28 westbaystars: So, between classes right now?
18:29 Deanna: Yeah, next class at 7. I should probably go prepare stuff for it
18:29 Deanna: I'll check back later, maybe (I'll at least be looking at the score on my keitai between classes)
18:29 Deanna: [waves bananas]
18:29 westbaystars: Catch you later then.
18:30 westbaystars: Ortiz leads off the second inning.
18:30 westbaystars: And he grounds the second offering through the left side, base hit.
18:30 westbaystars: Leadoff man is aboard for the Marines here in the second inning.
18:31 westbaystars: Ohmatsu comes to the plate.
18:33 westbaystars: The 1 strike, 3 balls to pitch to Ohmatsu just catches the outside corner to bring the count full.
18:34 westbaystars: Shoubu pitch misses high and away, ball four.
18:35 westbaystars: So the Marines have runners at first and second with nobody out.
18:35 westbaystars: And walks are often costly.
18:35 westbaystars: That brings up DH Benny.
18:35 westbaystars: Batting .000 with an RBI in the Series.
18:35 westbaystars: He grounds the ball to the left side.
18:35 westbaystars: Kaneko up with the ball, throws to second for one.
18:36 westbaystars: The relay to first is in time.
18:36 westbaystars: Double play.
18:36 westbaystars: Ortiz moving to third.
18:36 westbaystars: I think that Benny hit into a team leading 12 double plays during the regular season.
18:36 westbaystars: Nonetheless, that brings up Imae.
18:37 westbaystars: With a runner at third and two down.
18:39 westbaystars: Sweeney throwing inside and out, but Imae fouling a few 2 strike, 1 ball pitches off.
18:39 westbaystars: Goes outside twice in a row, and almost gets Imae to swing at the ball in the dirt outside.
18:39 westbaystars: But the first base umpire says, no, he didn't go around.
18:39 westbaystars: That evens the count up a 2 and 2.
18:40 westbaystars: The next offing is grounded just left of second.
18:40 westbaystars: Kaneko fields the ball and fires to Inada at first.
18:40 westbaystars: The side is retired.
18:40 westbaystars: After 1 and a half, there's still no score.
18:40 westbaystars: ---
18:40 westbaystars: Bottom of 2nd
18:40 westbaystars: ---
18:42 westbaystars: Takahashi leads off the bottom of the second for the Fighters.
18:43 westbaystars: He grounds the ball to Imae at third.
18:43 westbaystars: Imae fields the ball backing up, but comes up firing to first for the out.
18:43 westbaystars: One away.
18:44 westbaystars: That brings up Kudoh.
18:44 westbaystars: Kudoh is batting .333 with 3 RBIs in the series.
18:44 westbaystars: But grounds the second pitch back to Ono on the mound.
18:44 westbaystars: Ono walks the ball part way to first before throwing it for out number two.
18:44 westbaystars: Koyano follows.
18:45 westbaystars: He grounds out to Fukuura unassisted on the second pitch, and it's a quick 1-2-3 inning for Ono.
18:45 westbaystars: After two complete, there's still no score.
18:45 westbaystars: ---
18:45 westbaystars: Top of 3rd
18:45 westbaystars: ---
18:47 westbaystars: The Marines will be sending up top batter Tsuyoshi to face Sweeney in the third.
18:47 westbaystars: Nishioka grounded out to shirt his first at bat.
18:48 westbaystars: And finds himself in the hole 2 strikes, no balls, real quick.
18:49 westbaystars: After taking a waste pitch, Tsuyoshi fouls a couple offerings off.
18:49 westbaystars: Then bunts the next offering foul for strike three.
18:49 westbaystars: That was wierd.
18:50 westbaystars: Hayakawa follows.
18:50 westbaystars: He doubled his first time up.
18:50 westbaystars: This time he grounds the ball up the middle.
18:50 westbaystars: The ball hits the inside of Sweeney's right foot, deflecting from short to second.
18:50 westbaystars: Tanaka fields the ball and throws to first in time for out number two.
18:51 westbaystars: Sweeney's OK, laughing the come backer off.
18:51 westbaystars: Fukuura follows.
18:51 westbaystars: He singled his first time at bat.
18:51 westbaystars: And grounds out to Inada at first unassisted to retire the side.
18:52 westbaystars: So it's 1-2-3 for the first time for the Marines this inning.
18:52 westbaystars: And we remain scoreless after 2 and a half.
18:52 westbaystars: ---
18:52 westbaystars: Bottom of 3rd
18:52 westbaystars: ---
18:54 westbaystars: #8 batter Inada leads off for the bottom of the third for the Fighters.
18:54 westbaystars: He breaks his bat with a ground ball to Imae at third.
18:54 westbaystars: Imae comes in, fields the ball, and throws to first in time for out number one.
18:55 westbaystars: Kaneko follows.
18:55 westbaystars: Ono frequently getting his first pitches over for strikes.
18:55 westbaystars: The second pitch is lifted weakly just right and behind the second base bag.
18:56 westbaystars: Ortiz calls Tsuyoshi off and makes the catch for out number two.
18:56 westbaystars: Four pitches, two outs in the third.
18:56 westbaystars: Back to the top of the order in Morimoto.
18:57 westbaystars: But Ono falls behind Hichori 1 strike, 3 balls, as he's not getting the outside corner calls.
18:57 westbaystars: So he comes right over the plate at the knees to bring the count full.
18:57 westbaystars: Morimoto finally takes the bat off his shoulder and lines the 6th offering up the middle for a base hit.
18:58 westbaystars: Two our runner is aboard for the Fighters.
18:58 westbaystars: That brings up .500 batting (in this Series) Tanaka.
19:00 westbaystars: But Tanaka lines the 1-1 pitch right back to Ono for the final out of the inning.
19:00 westbaystars: After three complete, we're still scoreless.
19:00 westbaystars: ---
19:00 westbaystars: Top of 4th
19:00 westbaystars: ---
19:01 westbaystars: Sweeney has thrown 45 pitches to 12 batters so far.
19:02 westbaystars: Saburo leads off for fourth.
19:02 westbaystars: His 1 RBI this Series was his solo home run in the second game.
19:02 westbaystars: of Stage Two.
19:03 westbaystars: And he's down 2 strikes, no balls in no time.
19:03 westbaystars: Waste pitch in the dirt.
19:03 westbaystars: Fourth offering grounded to the right of the second base bag.
19:04 westbaystars: Tanaka back hands the ball and throws to first time time.
19:04 westbaystars: One away.
19:04 westbaystars: That brings up Satozaki.
19:04 westbaystars: He's swinging at the first pitch, lifting the ball to right field.
19:04 westbaystars: Inaba had plenty of time to come in, camp under it, and make the catch for out number two.
19:05 westbaystars: So up comes Ortiz, who singled his first at bat tonight.
19:06 westbaystars: A big swing and miss on a 1 strike, 3 ball pitch outside.
19:06 westbaystars: Full count.
19:06 westbaystars: Two down, nobody on.
19:06 westbaystars: And the shoubu pitch is grounded to Koyano at third.
19:07 westbaystars: He fires across the diamond in plenty of time to retire the Marines 1-2-3.
19:07 westbaystars: After three and a half, we still have no score.
19:07 westbaystars: ---
19:07 westbaystars: Bottom of 4th
19:07 westbaystars: ---
19:09 westbaystars: Fighters send up Inaba, Seguignol, and Takahashi here in the fourth.
19:09 westbaystars: Inaba singled his first at bat, right after Tanaka was cut down trying to steal second.
19:10 westbaystars: With the count 1 and 1 on Inaba, Ono has now thrown 50 pitches.
19:10 westbaystars: His 52nd pitch is swung on and missed, strike three.
19:10 westbaystars: One down here in the bottom of the fourth.
19:11 westbaystars: That brings up Seguignol, who got his first hit of the Series last night.
19:11 westbaystars: And he gets his second hit right here, blooping the first pitch in front of the center fielder.
19:12 westbaystars: One out base runner is on for Takahashi.
19:13 westbaystars: And Takahashi goes after the first pitch, grounding it through the left side.
19:13 westbaystars: Back to back hits with one out here in the bottom of the fourth for the Fighters.
19:13 westbaystars: That brings up Kudoh, batting .300 in the Series so far.
19:15 westbaystars: Kudoh hits a 1 strike, 2 ball pitch up the middle, just bouncing in front of Hayakawa in center.
19:15 westbaystars: Seguignol holds up at third base.
19:15 westbaystars: That was Ono's 60th pitch of the game.
19:16 westbaystars: Koyano comes to bat with the bases loaded and one out.
19:16 westbaystars: But Koyano grounds the ball to Tsuyoshi at short.
19:16 westbaystars: He throws to Ortiz for one.
19:16 westbaystars: The relay to first is in plenty of time.
19:16 westbaystars: And the side is retired.
19:16 westbaystars: So the Fighters load the bases for their biggest threat this game.
19:16 westbaystars: But Ono gets out of it with one pitch to Koyano.
19:17 westbaystars: At the end of four complete, we remain knotted at zeros.
19:17 westbaystars: ---
19:17 westbaystars: Top of 5th
19:17 westbaystars: ---
19:18 westbaystars: Ohmatsu leads off the fifth for the Marines.
19:19 westbaystars: He takes a 1-1 pitch just inside the first base bag and into the corner.
19:19 westbaystars: By the time Inaba gets the ball back in, Ohmatsu is standing on second with a lead off double.
19:20 westbaystars: Benny follows. Hitless so far in the Climax Series. Hit into a double play his first at bat.
19:20 westbaystars: He shows bunt on the first pitch, but takes outside.
19:20 Tokyo Sox: tight one again huh ?
19:20 westbaystars: Yep. 0-0 in the 5th.
19:21 westbaystars: Both teams have had chances.
19:21 westbaystars: One or two apiece.
19:21 Tokyo Sox: saw your reply - so, if Lotte can find a way to pull this one out, we'll have Naruse vs Darvish in game 5?
19:21 westbaystars: Benny shows bunt again on the 1-1 offering. Takes it for strike two on the outside corner.
19:21 Tokyo Sox: that would be awesome
19:22 westbaystars: That't it.
19:22 westbaystars: Ball two in the dirt, Benny holding up.
19:22 westbaystars: Takahashi running the ball down between home and the pitcher, holding Ohmatsu at second.
19:22 westbaystars: The 2-2 offering misses low and away, full count.
19:23 westbaystars: Sweeney has gone full count more often than Ono tonight.
19:23 westbaystars: Shoubu pitch misses inside. Ball four.
19:23 westbaystars: The umpire had been calling inside pitches strikes earlier.
19:23 westbaystars: I think Sweeney and Takahashi thought they could get that one.
19:23 westbaystars: That brings up Imae.
19:24 Tokyo Sox: 1st & 2nd, no one down ?
19:24 westbaystars: So is that why nobody's showing up tonight? Everyone would rather see Naruse vs. Darvish?
19:24 westbaystars: That's the situation.
19:24 westbaystars: Imae bunts the ball in front of home plate.
19:24 westbaystars: Takahashi comes up throwing to third.
19:24 Tokyo Sox: haha, yeah ...Game 4? yaaaawn. bring on game 5 !!
19:25 westbaystars: And gets Ohmatsu!
19:25 westbaystars: But not by much.
19:25 Tokyo Sox: thats crap execution. cmon Imae !
19:25 westbaystars: Still, and out is an out.
19:25 westbaystars: Back to the top of the order in Tsuyoshi.
19:26 westbaystars: Sweeney in the hole 0 strikes, 3 balls.
19:27 westbaystars: Is he running out of gas?
19:27 westbaystars: Fourth offering called strike one on the outside corner.
19:27 westbaystars: You know anything close will be called a strike with that count.
19:28 westbaystars: Next offering swung on and missed - full count.
19:29 westbaystars: Shoubu pitch is taken low, ball four.
19:29 westbaystars: Bases are loaded, one out.
19:29 westbaystars: And it looks like Satoh-pitching coach is headed to the mound with the interpreter.
19:30 westbaystars: After having a short talk with Hillman-kantoku.
19:30 westbaystars: Speaking of whom, Hillman-kantoku comes out to talk with the umpire.
19:30 westbaystars: Sweeney is done after 72 pitches/19 batters.
19:31 westbaystars: The three runners on base are his responsiblity.
19:31 westbaystars: So he can get the loss, but not the win.
19:31 Tokyo Sox: Takeda coming in ?
19:31 westbaystars: Takeda comes running out of the dugout for the mound.
19:31 westbaystars: You called it.
19:31 westbaystars: How tall is he.
19:32 westbaystars: Half Sweeney's height?
19:32 Tokyo Sox: ? no idea
19:32 Tokyo Sox: ah, souiu imi ka
19:33 westbaystars: 178cm to 185. Looks like a lot more.
19:33 westbaystars: Nonetheless, Hayakawa come to bat.
19:34 westbaystars: He doubed his first at bat.
19:34 westbaystars: Takeda's first pitch misses low and inside.
19:35 westbaystars: Works the count to 2 and 2.
19:36 westbaystars: Takeda doesn't work nearly as fast as the two starters.
19:36 westbaystars: And he gets Hayakawa swinging and missing a low-inside pitch.
19:36 westbaystars: Two down, bases still loaded.
19:37 westbaystars: Fukuura coming to bat.
19:37 westbaystars: 1 for 2 so far tonight. .333 on the Series.
19:39 westbaystars: After fouling the first pitch off, Fukuura takes three straight low and away.
19:39 westbaystars: Takeda has to come in.
19:39 westbaystars: And he does, called strike two on the outside part of the plate.
19:39 westbaystars: Bases loaded, full count, two down.
19:40 westbaystars: Shoubu pitch is grounded back to Takeda.
19:40 westbaystars: And he throws it wide of first!
19:40 westbaystars: But Inada gets the ball and returns to first for the force.
19:40 westbaystars: Three down.
19:41 westbaystars: The Marines squander their second big chance of the evening. Will they get another?
19:42 westbaystars: ---
19:42 westbaystars: Bottom of 5th
19:42 westbaystars: ---
19:42 westbaystars: Inada leads off the bottom of the fifth for the Fighters.
19:42 westbaystars: Grounded out to third his first at bat.
19:42 westbaystars: Grounded the first pitch to the left side.
19:43 westbaystars: Tsuyoshi gets to the ball in the hole, but doesn't have a throw.
19:43 Tokyo Sox: exciting but cant believe i've gotta go run to client dinner! have a good night - i will check in tomorrow
19:43 westbaystars: Infield hit.
19:43 Tokyo Sox: hopefully for an exciting game 5
19:43 westbaystars: Take care.
19:44 westbaystars: Kaneko fouls the first pitch off at the plate.
19:44 westbaystars: The second bunt gets a little more distance, and the only play for Ono is to first.
19:45 westbaystars: The sacrifice is successful.
19:45 westbaystars: The Fighters have a man in scoring position with one out.
19:45 westbaystars: And the top of the order coming up in Morimoto.
19:45 westbaystars: Batting .429 in the Series.
19:45 westbaystars: Morimoto swings at the first pitch.
19:46 westbaystars: Inada is rounding third.
19:46 westbaystars: The third base coach is trying to stop him.
19:46 westbaystars: And does as the throw comes home.
19:46 westbaystars: Runners at the corners with one out.
19:46 westbaystars: And Valentine-kantoku comes out of the first base dugout.
19:46 westbaystars: Looks like a pitching change here in the bottom of the fifth.
19:47 westbaystars: Both managers going to the bull pen in the fifth.
19:47 westbaystars: Ono only threw 65 pitches to 19 batters.
19:47 westbaystars: And finds himself in a similar situation as Sweeney in the top of the inning.
19:48 westbaystars: Hillman-kantoku takes the third base coach aside and has a short conversation with him.
19:48 westbaystars: He leaves the dugout all smiles. Is a squeeze play in the works?
19:48 westbaystars: Kawasaki comes on to pitch.
19:49 westbaystars: Kawasaki's first offering to Tanaka Kensuke is swung on and missed.
19:50 westbaystars: The second offering is lifted to left field.
19:50 westbaystars: This will be deep enough.
19:50 Thomas: hi
19:50 westbaystars: And the throw is not in time. Run in.
19:51 westbaystars: Valentine-kantoku comes out and argues that the runner at third left too early.
19:51 westbaystars: Good evening/morning/afternoon.
19:51 westbaystars: The third base umpire says no, he did touch up.
19:51 westbaystars: The Fighters take a 1-0 lead.
19:52 westbaystars: Morimoto went to second on the throw home.
19:52 westbaystars: And Inaba comes up to the plate.
19:52 Thomas: thanks for the play by play report, don't get any kind of live pictures in here
19:53 westbaystars: As I've told others, write snail-mail letters to the teams appealing for international streams.
19:53 westbaystars: Addresses are in the FAQ.
19:53 Thomas: ah, that might be an idea, I'll try
19:53 Thomas: thx
19:54 westbaystars: 2 and 2, two down, runner at second. Two's are wild.
19:54 westbaystars: (My son really likes that.)
19:55 westbaystars: Inaba fouls off a couple 2-2 pitches.
19:56 westbaystars: After another foul ball, Inaba finally ends the inning by grounding out to Fukuura at first unassisted.
19:57 westbaystars: But, the Fighters finally capitalize on a chance and take a 1-0 lead.
19:57 westbaystars: ---
19:57 westbaystars: Top of 6th
19:57 westbaystars: ---
19:57 Thomas: but still... Fighters in the lead now
19:57 westbaystars: Grounds crews come out, and the stadium dances to YMCA.
19:58 westbaystars: I think that this is quickly becoming the common tradition at many parks like the 7th inning streach in MLB.
19:58 westbaystars: Yep. But I would really like to see Naruse vs. Darvish tomorrow.
19:58 Thomas: yes, definitely
19:59 Thomas: and I#m a marines fan...
19:59 westbaystars: For the PL, likewise.
20:01 Thomas: and advancing to the Japan series might be a boost to Sawamura-sho hopes as well
20:01 westbaystars: Takeda finishes up his warm up pitches, getting ready for his second inning of work.
20:01 westbaystars: He'll be facing #4, 5, and 6.
20:02 westbaystars: It's not supposed to count. But I think that the voters are easilly swayed by that.
20:03 westbaystars: Takeda in the hole no strikes, 3 balls.
20:03 westbaystars: And walks Saburo on four pitches.
20:03 Thomas: exactly
20:03 westbaystars: That brings up Satozaki.
20:03 westbaystars: I would think that they have the votes taken at the end of the season, then announce them later.
20:04 westbaystars: But I'm not sure that they do that.
20:04 westbaystars: Satozaki hits the ball deep to center.
20:04 westbaystars: Haittaaaaaaaaaaaa!
20:04 Thomas: we'll never really know anyway
20:04 westbaystars: Gyakuten 2-run home run by Satozaki!
20:04 Thomas: yeah
20:04 westbaystars: And it's so quiet!
20:05 Thomas: quiet?no Lotte fans at Sapporo dome?
20:05 westbaystars: Lotte's oendan has good volume and all, but it just doesn't seem to resonate like the Fighters'.
20:05 westbaystars: That's it for Takeda.
20:05 westbaystars: There are just a few sections in right field for the Lotte fans.
20:06 Thomas: I had been hoping for Satozaki, he's come up with big hits at crucial moments so often...
20:06 westbaystars: Fighter fans take up the entire stadium, including much of the right field stands.
20:06 Thomas: that makes all the difference^^
20:07 westbaystars: Hagiwara comes in to pitch for the Fighters.
20:08 westbaystars: Hiroshima Shimin Kyujyo is similar.
20:08 westbaystars: Ortiz steps in, and takes ball one low for Hagiwara's first offering.
20:08 Thomas: didn't pitch much in the season
20:08 westbaystars: Even for Giants' games at Hiroshima, the Giants fans are squeezed into a column or two of bleachers.
20:09 westbaystars: Oritz grounds the ball to the left side.
20:09 westbaystars: Kaneko dives, grabs the ball deep in the hole.
20:09 westbaystars: Stands and fires.
20:09 westbaystars: The one bounder is not in time.
20:09 westbaystars: But *close*.
20:10 westbaystars: Infield hit for Ortiz.
20:10 westbaystars: That brings up Ohmatsu.
20:11 westbaystars: No strikes, three balls to Ohmatsu.
20:11 westbaystars: Nobody out here in the top of the 6th.
20:11 westbaystars: With a runner at first.
20:12 Thomas: another walk then? last one to Saburo was the wrong decision
20:12 Thomas: obviously
20:12 westbaystars: Ball four low. Ohmatsu walks on four pitches.
20:12 westbaystars: Valentine-kantoku standing up and giving signs to his third base coach.
20:13 westbaystars: Who relays them to pinch hitter Watanabe.
20:13 westbaystars: Lotte has had two failed bunts so far this game.
20:13 westbaystars: Watanabe showing bunt, takes the first pitch low and away.
20:14 westbaystars: I don't think that Takeda really meant to walk Saburo. He was careful, maybe. Not not intentional.
20:14 westbaystars: Watanabe bunts the ball into the air up the first base side.
20:14 Thomas: ok
20:14 westbaystars: It drops in in front of Hagiwara, who throws to third for the force.
20:15 westbaystars: Failed sacrifice again.
20:15 Thomas: I really needed a stream...
20:15 westbaystars: Runners at first and second, one out now.
20:15 westbaystars: For those of you just joining us, the Fighters scored first on a sac fly in the bottom of the 5th.
20:16 westbaystars: Here in the top of the 6th, Saburo led off with a walk and Satozaki hit a 2-run home run.
20:16 westbaystars: Gyakuten in favor of the Marines.
20:16 westbaystars: Imae up to bat with runners at first and second, one out.
20:16 westbaystars: Imae lines the ball to Tanaka at second.
20:17 westbaystars: He throws to Kaneko at second to get the lead runner stranded between the bases.
20:17 westbaystars: Double play.
20:17 westbaystars: But not before the Marines take a 2-1 lead on Satozaki's 2-run home run.
20:17 westbaystars: ---
20:17 Thomas: damn
20:17 westbaystars: Bottom of 6th
20:17 westbaystars: ---
20:18 westbaystars: The line drive double play can't be helped.
20:18 westbaystars: But the failed sacrifice - the second time a runner was cut down at third - is unforgivable.
20:18 westbaystars: Seguignol leads off the Fighters' half of the sixth.
20:19 sportkrank: When does the Central League Series begin?
20:19 westbaystars: Kawasaki starting his second inning of relief.
20:19 westbaystars: Friday.
20:19 westbaystars: No, Thursday.
20:19 westbaystars: At Tokyo Dome.
20:19 westbaystars: I have a ticket to Saturday's game.
20:20 sportkrank: Thank you. I am checking in from Fairborn, OH just outside Dayton.
20:20 westbaystars: So I won't be doing that play by play.
20:20 Thomas: ah lucky you
20:20 westbaystars: Seggy flies out to Saburo in right for out number one.
20:20 sportkrank: I just have to wait for the results
20:21 westbaystars: So the time isn't too bad there? A little after 7:00 am?
20:21 westbaystars: Catcher Takahashi follows.
20:21 sportkrank: Yes. Thank you for the updates and the great website. I've been following it for years.
20:21 westbaystars: [See update above]
20:22 westbaystars: Takahashi lifts the ball high toward left.
20:22 westbaystars: Tsuyoshi, Imae, and Ohmatsu gather.
20:22 Thomas: I just have to agree with sportkrank, though I just found it lately
20:22 westbaystars: And when the ball finally comes down, it's Tsuyoshi who makes the catch for out number two.
20:22 westbaystars: Kudoh comes to the plate.
20:23 westbaystars: I recognise the name (sportkrank), but haven't seen it lately.
20:23 westbaystars: Kudoh goes down swinging for out number three.
20:24 westbaystars: The Fighters go down in order for the first time in a while.
20:24 westbaystars: First time since the second inning.
20:24 westbaystars: After six complete now, the Marines lead this one by a score of 2-1.
20:24 westbaystars: ===
20:25 westbaystars: Update:
20:25 westbaystars: Fighters scored their run in the fifth inning.
20:25 westbaystars: A sacrifice fly with runners at the corners.
20:25 westbaystars: Lotte came back in the top of the sixth.
20:25 westbaystars: Lead off walk to Saburo.
20:25 westbaystars: Then gyakuten 2-run home run to center by Satozaki.
20:25 westbaystars: ===
20:25 westbaystars: ---
20:26 westbaystars: Top of 7th
20:26 westbaystars: ---
20:26 westbaystars: Tsuyoshi leads off the 7th for the Marines.
20:26 westbaystars: He's swinging at the first pitch, lifting the ball to left center.
20:26 westbaystars: Morimoti comes over and makes the catch for out number one.
20:26 westbaystars: One pitch, one out.
20:27 westbaystars: That brings up Hayakawa.
20:28 westbaystars: No strikes, 3 balls to Hayakawa.
20:28 westbaystars: And Hagiwara walks Hayakawa on four straight pitches.
20:28 westbaystars: That brings Satoh-pitching coach slowly out of the third base dugout.
20:28 westbaystars: With Hillman-kantoku following behind toward the home plate umpire.
20:29 westbaystars: Yamamoto is announced as the new pitcher.
20:30 Thomas: 6.75 ERA in 21.1 innings over the season
20:31 westbaystars: Fukuura stands in.
20:31 westbaystars: Yamamoto's first pitch misses low and away for ball one.
20:32 westbaystars: Not a good start for Yamamoto.
20:32 westbaystars: Fukuura grounds the next pitch through the right side.
20:32 westbaystars: Base hit!
20:32 westbaystars: That loads the bases for the Marines.
20:33 westbaystars: And we'll have another pitching change.
20:33 Thomas: wow, that was quick
20:33 westbaystars: The other Takeda is announced.
20:34 jgribbins: Bases loaded?
20:35 westbaystars: Yes, bases loaded, one out.
20:35 Thomas: only two runners, I guess
20:35 westbaystars: I've seen this before.
20:35 westbaystars: Heh?
20:35 westbaystars: Have I lost count?
20:35 Thomas: as Tsuyoshi had a fly
20:35 Thomas: Hayakawa walked
20:36 Thomas: and Fukuura hit
20:36 westbaystars: Oh, fly out, walk, hit. You're right.
20:36 westbaystars: So, Hisashi Takeda on the mound.
20:37 Thomas: so 1st and 2nd or 1st and 3rd?
20:37 westbaystars: First pitch to Saburo, with runners at first and second, is swung on and missed.
20:37 westbaystars: Strike one.
20:38 westbaystars: Saburo grounds the ball through the left side, base hit!
20:38 westbaystars: The runner is held at third.
20:38 westbaystars: *Now* the bases are loaded.
20:38 westbaystars: With one out.
20:38 westbaystars: And gyakuten home run hitting Satozaki coming to the plate.
20:39 Thomas: so I can hope for tsuika-ten
20:39 westbaystars: 3 home runs in the Climax Series so far, 5 RBIs.
20:39 westbaystars: He's come through a number of times.
20:39 Thomas: who had two homeruns on Sunday already...
20:40 westbaystars: On Sunday it was Satozaki (twice), Saburo, and Hayakawa.
20:41 westbaystars: Two strikes, one ball to Satozaki with the bases loaded, one out.
20:41 westbaystars: Fourth offering fouled off and out of play behind the back stop.
20:41 Thomas: don't forget Ortiz
20:42 westbaystars: Oh, yea. Ortiz hit one back to back with Satozaki.
20:42 westbaystars: Thanks.
20:42 westbaystars: 2-2 pitch taken for strike three.
20:42 westbaystars: Two down.
20:43 westbaystars: That brings up Ortiz.
20:43 westbaystars: 2 for 3 tonight.
20:43 westbaystars: Swinging at the first pitch.
20:43 westbaystars: Lifts the ball to shallow center field.
20:43 westbaystars: Where it's caught for out number three.
20:44 westbaystars: The Marines blow their second bases loaded, one out chance of the game.
20:44 jgribbins: Bobby V. must be upset!
20:44 westbaystars: I'm sure he'd rather have a blow out.
20:44 westbaystars: ---
20:44 westbaystars: Bottom of 7th
20:44 westbaystars: ---
20:44 jgribbins: How do Fighter fans feel about Hillman leaving?
20:44 Thomas: once again... and now comes the yesterday-devastating bottom of the seventh
20:45 westbaystars: I'm not sure about how Fighters fans feel. The press is concentrating on the search for a new manager.
20:45 westbaystars: Koyano will be leading off the Fighters' Lucky Seven.
20:47 westbaystars: ===
20:47 westbaystars: Scoring recap
20:47 westbaystars: Bottom of 5th:
20:47 westbaystars: Sac fly by Tanaka puts the Fighters on the board first - 1-0.
20:47 westbaystars: Top of 6th.
20:47 westbaystars: Saburo led off with a walk, Satozaki hit a 2-run home run.
20:47 westbaystars: ===
20:48 westbaystars: Koyano leads off the bottom of the 6th grounding out to second.
20:48 westbaystars: One out.
20:48 westbaystars: Inaba coming to the plate.
20:48 westbaystars: Kawasaki on the mound for the Marines.
20:48 zman: Thanks westbay-san
20:48 westbaystars: He came in with one out in the fifth.
20:49 westbaystars: Sweeney was similarly taken out with one out in the fifth - after loading the bases.
20:49 westbaystars: M. Takeda got him out of that pinch.
20:49 westbaystars: But is now on the hook for the loss with the two batters he faced in the 6th.
20:50 westbaystars: Inaba fouls out to Imae at third.
20:50 westbaystars: Two away for the Fighters in the seventh.
20:50 westbaystars: That was Inada, not Inaba.
20:50 westbaystars: Kaneko follows.
20:51 westbaystars: My fingers are no better than my toungue with those two.
20:51 westbaystars: One strike, three balls to Kaneko.
20:51 westbaystars: Swing and a miss. Full count.
20:52 westbaystars: The shoubu pitch is stroked into left field for a base hit.
20:52 westbaystars: The Fighters have a two out base runner here in the seventh.
20:52 westbaystars: With top batter Morino coming up next.
20:53 westbaystars: Morino is 2 for 3 so far tonight.
20:53 westbaystars: Reaches for and misses the first pitch low and away.
20:53 westbaystars: I think his last two hits were on the first pitch.
20:54 Thomas: and he hasn't faced Kawasaki yet today
20:55 westbaystars: The Marines have stranded 10 runners so far this game, with just 2 runs to show for it.
20:55 westbaystars: The Fighters have only stranded 5.
20:56 westbaystars: Full count as Morimoto takes an awfully close 6th offering.
20:56 westbaystars: Valentine-kantoku discussing pitchers in the dugout with his coaches.
20:56 westbaystars: Shoubu pitch is grounded to the left side.
20:56 westbaystars: It's deflected off of Imae's glove.
20:56 westbaystars: Tsuyoshi fields the ball.
20:57 westbaystars: Nobody's covering thrid!
20:57 westbaystars: The runner tries.
20:57 westbaystars: Kawasaki comes over.
20:57 westbaystars: The throw is in time.
20:57 westbaystars: He's touched out!
20:57 westbaystars: Infield hit, runner tagged out at third.
20:57 Thomas: phew
20:58 westbaystars: The Fighters have been agressive on the base paths this Series.
20:58 westbaystars: But it bit them there.
20:58 westbaystars: At the end of seven complete now, the Marines hold on to a 2-1 lead.
20:58 westbaystars: ---
20:58 westbaystars: Top of 8th
20:58 westbaystars: ---
20:59 westbaystars: H. Takeda starts his second inning of work.
20:59 westbaystars: He'll be facing the bottom of the Marines' order in Ohmatsu.
21:00 westbaystars: After Ohmatsu is Watanabe and Imae.
21:00 westbaystars: Ohmatsu slices a line drive right to Kudoh in left.
21:00 westbaystars: One away.
21:01 westbaystars: Pinch hitter Hashimoto comes in for Watanabe.
21:01 westbaystars: Watanabe was a pinch hitter for Benny, and failed to sacrifice a couple inning ago.
21:01 westbaystars: Hashimoto quickly in the hole 2 strikes, no balls.
21:02 westbaystars: Whooo. Third pitch was close, just outside.
21:03 westbaystars: Hashimoto drives the ball to the left-center gap.
21:03 westbaystars: One bound, two bounds, and off the wall.
21:03 westbaystars: He comes into second base with a one out stand up double.
21:03 westbaystars: That brings up Imae.
21:04 westbaystars: 0 for 3 so far tonight.
21:04 westbaystars: He grounds the ball to the left side.
21:04 westbaystars: Hashimoto goes sliding back into second in front of Kaneko who fielded the ball close.
21:04 westbaystars: The throw to first is in time to cut down Imae.
21:05 westbaystars: Two down, runner at second.
21:05 westbaystars: Top of the order in Tsuyoshi coming to the plate.
21:05 westbaystars: [Update to come at the end of the inning]
21:06 westbaystars: [For the time being, Lotte is leading 2-1.]
21:06 westbaystars: Tsuyoshi completely fooled on Takeda's third offering.
21:06 westbaystars: Two strikes, one ball.
21:07 westbaystars: Tsuyoshi grounds the ball to Inada at first.
21:07 westbaystars: Inada takes the ball to the bag himself, and the side is retired.
21:07 westbaystars: ===
21:07 westbaystars: Scoring Recap
21:07 westbaystars: Bottom of 5th
21:08 westbaystars: With runners at the corners, Tanaka hit a fly ball to left field.
21:08 westbaystars: That scored the runner from third.
21:08 westbaystars: Valentine-kantoku protested that the runner left early, but no change.
21:08 westbaystars: Nippon Ham took a 1-0 lead.
21:08 westbaystars: .
21:08 westbaystars: Top of 6th
21:08 westbaystars: Saburo leads off drawing a base on balls.
21:09 westbaystars: Satozaki follows with a gyakuten 2-run home run.
21:09 westbaystars: Marines up 2-1.
21:09 westbaystars: And that's where we are.
21:09 westbaystars: ===
21:09 westbaystars: ---
21:09 westbaystars: Bottom of 8th
21:09 westbaystars: ---
21:09 westbaystars: Yabuta takes the mound for the Marines.
21:10 westbaystars: Ohtsuka comes in the game in the outfield somewhere.
21:10 westbaystars: Tanaka will be leading off the Fighters' half of the eighth.
21:11 westbaystars: 1 for 2 tonight with a sacrifice fly.
21:11 westbaystars: Swings at the first pitch.
21:11 nanbanjin: great running!
21:11 westbaystars: Fukuura dashes for the bag.
21:11 westbaystars: Slides in - too late!
21:11 westbaystars: Tanaka beats Fukuura to the bag.
21:12 westbaystars: One pitch, runner at first.
21:12 NipponHam11: hello everybody
21:12 westbaystars: And that brings up Inaba.
21:12 NipponHam11: US history class was cancelled, so I get to listen in ^_^
21:12 westbaystars: Inaba also swinging at the first pitch, but hits a dribble foul up the first base side.
21:13 westbaystars: Second offering fouled off to the left side and out of play.
21:13 westbaystars: [See recap shortly above]
21:13 westbaystars: Third offering *just* missed inside for ball one.
21:13 NipponHam11: if there's somebody who can get a clutch hit for Nippon Ham, it's Inaba
21:14 westbaystars: Two more misses. Full count.
21:14 westbaystars: Tanaka's been thrown out attempting to steal once tonight.
21:14 westbaystars: Will he be going?
21:14 westbaystars: Yes. But it's ball four inside.
21:15 westbaystars: Runners at first and second, Seguignol coming up, nobody out.
21:15 westbaystars: And he's not up there to bunt.
21:15 westbaystars: Seggy has a hit in three tries so far tonight.
21:15 NipponHam11: never is
21:15 Thomas: maybe they should have kept Kawasaki on the mound
21:16 nanbanjin: vamos Seguignol, show us why you're #4!
21:16 westbaystars: The bananas are out.
21:16 westbaystars: Anyone want to wave one for Deanna?
21:16 westbaystars: Two strikes and a ball the count.
21:16 zman: What a great game this is, little bit of everything
21:16 NipponHam11: haha
21:17 nanbanjin: [waves banana]
21:17 NipponHam11: opponents batting .268 against Yabuta in the Regular Season
21:17 nanbanjin: booh
21:17 westbaystars: Next offering, swung on and missed.
21:17 westbaystars: Strike three.
21:17 Thomas: phew
21:17 westbaystars: One away, runners still at first and second.
21:17 NipponHam11: Seguinol is a high-risk, high-reward swinger
21:17 Thomas: heart rate is going up...
21:17 westbaystars: Takahashi coming to the plate.
21:17 NipponHam11: either it's out of the park, an extra-base hit, or nothing
21:17 westbaystars: Takahashi is 1 for 2 with a sacrifice bunt.
21:18 westbaystars: First pitch taken for strike one.
21:18 NipponHam11: with 1 out, we could see another
21:18 NipponHam11: especially to take the double play out of order
21:19 westbaystars: Second offering called strike two on the outside corner.
21:19 westbaystars: Next offering grounded back to the pitcher.
21:19 westbaystars: He double pumps to second, waiting for a fielder.
21:19 nanbanjin: phew, almost got double play-ed there
21:19 westbaystars: Finally throws for one.
21:20 westbaystars: The relay to first is *not* in time.
21:20 westbaystars: Runners at first and third, two outs.
21:20 westbaystars: Battter is Kudoh.
21:20 westbaystars: Fouls the first pitch back.
21:20 westbaystars: Runner at first being changed.
21:21 westbaystars: #39.
21:21 westbaystars: Kawashima comes in to pinch run at first.
21:21 westbaystars: That's the go ahead runner.
21:21 NipponHam11: the double-clutch killed the potential 1-6-3 double play
21:21 NipponHam11: let's see if that proves costly
21:21 nanbanjin: how is Kudo today?
21:21 westbaystars: Second offering swung on and fouled out of play to the left side.
21:21 westbaystars: Two quick strikes on Kudoh.
21:21 NipponHam11: #39 is Kawashima
21:22 westbaystars: Third offering way up high. Waste pitch.
21:22 westbaystars: Kudoh is 1 for 3 so far tonight.
21:22 westbaystars: Yabuta on the mound for the Marines.
21:22 nanbanjin: I see, thanks for the data update
21:23 westbaystars: And Yabuta gets Kudoh on strikes.
21:23 nanbanjin: iya-
21:23 westbaystars: The side is retired.
21:23 Thomas: 3 to go...
21:23 westbaystars: At the end of eight complete, the Marines hold onto a 2-1 lead.
21:23 nanbanjin: no outs 1st and 2nd datta no ni
21:23 NipponHam11: ouch
21:23 westbaystars: ====
21:24 westbaystars: Game Scoring Recap
21:24 westbaystars: Bottom of 5th:
21:24 Thomas: but the Marines wasted even better chances
21:24 westbaystars: Fighters score first on sacrifice fly by Tanaka.
21:24 westbaystars: .
21:24 westbaystars: Top of 6th:
21:24 westbaystars: Marines come back with leadoff walk to Saburo followed by 2-run home run by Satozaki.
21:24 westbaystars: ====
21:24 westbaystars: ---
21:24 westbaystars: Top of 9th
21:24 westbaystars: ---
21:25 NipponHam11: so if the Marines do force a decisive Game 5, who would pitch?
21:25 NipponHam11: I'm guessing Darvish for the Fighters
21:25 Thomas: Naruse vs. Darvish, I reckon
21:25 westbaystars: The score is 11 - 8 in runners stranded. Marines in the lead.
21:25 NipponHam11: epic pitcher's duel there, at least on paper
21:26 westbaystars: Micheal [sic] takes the mound.
21:26 Thomas: so it's gonna be hell of a pitching duel
21:26 Thomas: but anyway... still a long, long inning to go
21:26 westbaystars: Naruse vs. Darvish. There's no doubt about this one.
21:26 westbaystars: Micheal's first offering misses outside. Ball one.
21:27 westbaystars: Second offering, swung on and missed. 1 and 1.
21:27 NipponHam11: ok, for some wacky reason I thought Naruse was pitching today
21:27 westbaystars: Next offering fouled up the first base line. Two strikes and a ball.
21:27 westbaystars: Nakajima takes over behind the plate.
21:28 westbaystars: Everyone figured he would. But it was announced that Ono was pitching after last night's game.
21:28 westbaystars: You must not have read the game log.
21:28 Thomas: I thought otherwise
21:28 westbaystars: 2 and 2 now the count.
21:28 westbaystars: Hayakawa fouls another one back to the backstop.
21:28 Thomas: with Darvish pitching tomorrow, they'd need someone who could shut the fighters out
21:29 westbaystars: Micheal's got to work hard for this first batter.
21:29 Thomas: so use the weaker pitcher today and the better tomorrow...
21:29 westbaystars: Another 2-2 offering is looped into left field for a lead off base hit.
21:29 westbaystars: The Marines are on the move.
21:29 NipponHam11: of course
21:29 westbaystars: That'll bring up Fukuura.
21:29 Thomas: as 1-3 and 2-3 in the series are not really a difference
21:30 westbaystars: First pitch to Fukuura fouled off to the left side.
21:31 westbaystars: Second pitch called strike two up and over the outer part of the plate.
21:31 westbaystars: Third offering is in the dirt.
21:31 westbaystars: Good job by Nakajima to keep the ball from getting away.
21:32 westbaystars: Fourth offering a come backer.
21:32 westbaystars: Micheal dodges the ball, and it sails over the second base bag and into center field.
21:32 westbaystars: Furst two base runners are on board for the Marines in the 9th.
21:32 westbaystars: 猛打賞for Fukuura.
21:33 westbaystars: "Super Batting Award" is when a batter gets at least three hits in a game.
21:33 westbaystars: Saburo bunting the first pitch?
21:34 westbaystars: Fouls it off up the third base line.
21:34 westbaystars: Both sacrifice attempts by the Marines have failed so far tonight.
21:34 westbaystars: The runner being cut down at third both times.
21:35 westbaystars: Second pitch taken for strike two on the outside corner. No sign of bunt.
21:35 NipponHam11: they're persistent, I'll give them that
21:35 westbaystars: Fouled off the next pitch out of play to the right side.
21:35 westbaystars: This is a lot of pitches for Micheal.
21:36 westbaystars: Next pitches misses just down low. Ball one.
21:36 NipponHam11: is Micheal leaving his pitches up in the zone?
21:36 westbaystars: Next offering is lined into right field.
21:36 westbaystars: Third base coach holds the runner.
21:36 westbaystars: And Inaba sends a lazer beam to home.
21:37 westbaystars: Getting "ooo"s from the audience.
21:37 westbaystars: Nobody out for the Marines.
21:38 westbaystars: That brings up Satozaki with the bases loaded for the second time tonight.
21:38 Thomas: best chance for scoring all night...
21:38 zman: bags are loaded again
21:38 westbaystars: Two quick strikes on the Marines' catcher.
21:38 westbaystars: And Series Home Run King so far.
21:38 westbaystars: Third time for Lotte.
21:39 westbaystars: They have yet to score with the basesd loaded.
21:39 westbaystars: And they do!
21:39 westbaystars: Satozaki throws the bat out there and pops the ball up to shallow center.
21:39 westbaystars: The ball is too low for anyone to get to!
21:39 westbaystars: It drops in for a base hit.
21:39 westbaystars: All the runners move up one base.
21:40 westbaystars: And Lotte has a 3-1 lead.
21:40 westbaystars: That brings up Ortiz, still with nobody out and the bases loaded.
21:40 Thomas: yay
21:40 zman: Satozaki has the luck tonight
21:40 Thomas: and still no out, based loaded
21:40 westbaystars: Two strikes, one ball to Ortiz.
21:41 westbaystars: Micheal has thrown 22 pitches so far this inning.
21:41 westbaystars: Fourth offering misses inside, 2 and 2.
21:41 westbaystars: The 2-2 pitch is grounded up the middle.
21:41 westbaystars: One run in.
21:41 nanbanjin: ok, this game is over
21:42 westbaystars: Two runs in.
21:42 westbaystars: The Marines finally break through with five hits in a row.
21:42 Thomas: not yet... remember the 7th yesterday
21:42 westbaystars: And that prompts Satoh-pitching coach to come to the mound.
21:42 zman: Michael is going to give Kubota a run for the highest ERA in the playoffs
21:42 westbaystars: And Hillman-kantoku is headed toward the home plate umpire.
21:42 westbaystars: We've got a pitching change.
21:43 NipponHam11: yup, it's over, Game 5 tomorrow night
21:43 westbaystars: Well, Valentine-kantoku will probably go with Kobayashi to close.
21:43 westbaystars: And with very few exceptions (Sunday being one), Kobayashi does poorly when I watch.
21:43 zman: Should be a classic tomorrow
21:44 zman: Great baseball!
21:44 Thomas: Kobamasa spoiled a couple of games this year
21:44 Thomas: and spoiled the 3rd game of the 2nd stage of playoffs in 2005
21:44 Thomas: when he lost a 4-0 lead
21:44 westbaystars: I'm fairly sure I saw them both.
21:45 Thomas: and finally walked the sayonara-run in
21:45 westbaystars: And a couple of close breathers that he just managed to finish.
21:45 Thomas: they even stopped using him as closer for some time and took Yabutra instead
21:46 westbaystars: Kikuchi comes in to pitch for the Fighters.
21:46 Thomas: not in his best form this year
21:46 westbaystars: Right handed pinch hitter Hori comes to the plate.
21:47 westbaystars: And on the first pitch, with Hori bunting through a high pitch,
21:47 westbaystars: Satozaki gets caught in no-man's land between second and third.
21:47 westbaystars: He's touched out for out number one.
21:47 westbaystars: Runner at first, one out now.
21:47 westbaystars: the next offering is driven to straight away center, right to Hichori.
21:48 westbaystars: And with two pitches, Kikuchi has two outs.
21:48 westbaystars: My bad luck with Masa goes back a couple of years.
21:48 westbaystars: Hashimoto comes up next.
21:48 zman: bobby's gambles are not working tonight
21:48 westbaystars: He came in the game as a pinch hitter and hit a double.
21:49 Thomas: when I stayed in Japan for the last time, all live games he pitched gread
21:49 westbaystars: Moving runners along certaily hasn't worked out for Lotte.
21:49 Thomas: only when I couldn't get to the stadium...
21:49 westbaystars: 2 and 2 the couint to Hashimoto.
21:50 zman: that last play looked like bunt and run
21:50 zman: with the hitter missing the ball
21:50 westbaystars: Inada fields a high hopper toward his face at first base.
21:50 westbaystars: Turns, and steps on the bag for the final out.
21:51 westbaystars: But, not before the Marines came up with three runs in the 9th.
21:51 westbaystars: To take a 5-1 lead.
21:51 westbaystars: ---
21:51 westbaystars: Bottom of 9th
21:51 westbaystars: ---
21:51 westbaystars: Bunt and run makes sense with the batter going after a pitch that high.
21:52 westbaystars: Masahide Kobayashi is announced.
21:52 westbaystars: And takes the mound.
21:54 zman: The Hammies are hitting 294 in the series, so they can get hits no runs in this game
21:54 westbaystars: Koyano will be leading off the Fighters' last change, batting .091 in the Series.
21:54 westbaystars: 0 for 3 tonight.
21:54 westbaystars: Fouls the first pitch back to the back stop. Strike one.
21:55 westbaystars: Second offering just misses outside. 1 and 1.
21:55 westbaystars: 1-1 offering misses just low.
21:55 westbaystars: Masa is trying to finesse too much.
21:55 westbaystars: Next offering is fouled off to the right side. 2 and 2.
21:56 westbaystars: And it's strike three swinging at the next inside pitch.
21:56 westbaystars: One away.
21:56 westbaystars: Sapporo fans still on their feet.
21:56 westbaystars: As Inada comes to the plate.
21:56 westbaystars: 1 for 3 tonight.
21:57 Thomas: two to go
21:57 zman: two 300 plus hitters now followed by two 500 hitters in the series
21:57 westbaystars: Two quick strikes on Inada without taking the bat off his shoulder.
21:57 westbaystars: Waste pitch up and away. 2 strikes, 1 ball.
21:57 westbaystars: Next pitch fouled back. Count remains 2 strikes, 1 ball.
21:58 westbaystars: And Inada swings late at a high pitch.
21:58 westbaystars: Strike three.
21:58 westbaystars: 後一人。
21:58 westbaystars: Tsuboi is annouced as the pinch hitter.
21:59 westbaystars: 1 RBI in the Series despite a .000 batting average.
21:59 westbaystars: 1 and 1 the count as Masa works quickly.
21:59 westbaystars: Third offering fouled off to the left side.
21:59 zman: No kidding
22:00 zman: He is like a machine in the batting cages
22:00 westbaystars: And the next offering just misses up and away.
22:00 westbaystars: 2 and 2, 2 down, nobody on.
22:00 westbaystars: Next pitch is grounded to Fukuura at first.
22:00 westbaystars: He underhands the ball to Masa covering.
22:00 westbaystars: And the side is retired a minute before the four hour mark.
22:01 westbaystars: The Chiba Lotte Marines win this one by a score of 5-1.
22:01 westbaystars: Despite this being a close game all the way to the end.
22:01 zman: Hope the ratings jump for the game tomorrow.
22:01 jgribbins: What is game time tomorrow?
22:01 Thomas: so fine work by Kobamasa today
22:01 Thomas: and tomorrow's gonna be a real grand finale
22:01 westbaystars: Does anyone here need a recap of the scoring?
22:02 westbaystars: Not tomorrow.
22:02 Thomas: I think the team winning has great chances to claim the Japan series
22:02 westbaystars: Day after tomorrow.
22:02 westbaystars: 6:00.
22:02 zman: OK
22:02 Thomas: oh yeah, you're right
22:02 Thomas: even better for me
22:02 jgribbins: Thanks! I will be here...
22:02 zman: And when do the dragons and giants start?
22:02 westbaystars: Satozaki is the game hero.
22:02 Thomas: as tomorrow I could only come in late
22:03 westbaystars: Any surprises there?
22:03 nanbanjin: Thursday game will be great
22:03 Thomas: the gyakuten homerun^^
22:03 westbaystars: They also start on Thursday (JST).
22:03 nanbanjin: looking forward to it
22:03 westbaystars: So both games will be on at the same time.
22:03 Thomas: I wish I had Japanese TV...
22:03 westbaystars: I'll open chats for both, but will be in the Pacific League one.
22:03 nanbanjin: see y'all on Thursday
22:03 zman: OH NO?
22:04 Thomas: so, I gotta leave, thank you again for the great coverage
22:04 westbaystars: My pleasure. Take care.
22:04 Thomas: ja mata ne
22:04 westbaystars: zman: Oh no?
22:05 westbaystars: Is there a problem with Thursday?
22:05 westbaystars: Satozaki wants some revenge against Darvish.
22:06 westbaystars: He's saying that Naruto will be throwing the final game.
22:06 westbaystars: They didn't travel to Sapporo to lose.
22:08 westbaystars: I guess that wraps it up for today.
22:08 westbaystars: I'll be posting the full game log shortly.
22:08 westbaystars: Thanks all for joining me.
22:09 westbaystars: Hope to see you all back for the final on Thursday.
22:09 westbaystars: Take care.
Re: 2007 PL Climax Series Stage 2 Game 4
[ Author: Deanna | Posted: Oct 17, 2007 12:17 AM
| NIP Fan
]
AARRRRRRGGGGGGHHHHHH.
I immediately realized when I got done with work and had no e-mails of "Woohoo Fighters!" on my cellphone, that they lost. I still made myself go read the entire game log, though.
I immediately realized when I got done with work and had no e-mails of "Woohoo Fighters!" on my cellphone, that they lost. I still made myself go read the entire game log, though.
Re: 2007 PL Climax Series Stage 2 Game 4
[ Author: BigManZam | Posted: Oct 17, 2007 6:54 AM
| CLM Fan
]
I was listening on the radio via Peercast. Woke up really early and caught everything from the 5th inning. The turning points were definitely when Satozaki hit the two run shot and Yabuta getting out of an ugly pinch situation. He located some great stuff when the pressure was on.
Gotta say that Bobby pinch bunting for Benny with the offensively challenged Watanabe Masato almost sent Nippon Ham to the Series. Very questionable call. It was in the middle of the game and there was still plenty of baseball left to play. Luckily, Hashimoto got a pinch hit double when he pinch hit for Watanabe later in the game.
Next up is Naruse vs. Darvish! I expect something similar to when Matsuzaka and Saitoh squared off last year.
Gotta say that Bobby pinch bunting for Benny with the offensively challenged Watanabe Masato almost sent Nippon Ham to the Series. Very questionable call. It was in the middle of the game and there was still plenty of baseball left to play. Luckily, Hashimoto got a pinch hit double when he pinch hit for Watanabe later in the game.
Next up is Naruse vs. Darvish! I expect something similar to when Matsuzaka and Saitoh squared off last year.
Re: 2007 PL Climax Series Stage 2 Game 4
[ Author: Deanna | Posted: Oct 17, 2007 12:54 PM
| NIP Fan
]
"... or even when Yagi and Saitoh squared off"? Naruse this year is even kind of like Yagi last year, and Darvish this year is a lot like Saitoh last year.
Anyway, now that I think about it more, I do have to admit that if the Marines win this, Satozaki better get the MVP award for the playoffs (and I'll be pretty happy for him, I love Satozaki). But, I'm still cheering for the Fighters first, of course.
Anyway, now that I think about it more, I do have to admit that if the Marines win this, Satozaki better get the MVP award for the playoffs (and I'll be pretty happy for him, I love Satozaki). But, I'm still cheering for the Fighters first, of course.
Re: 2007 PL Climax Series Stage 2 Game 4
[ Author: Guest: zman | Posted: Oct 17, 2007 8:25 PM
]
Westbay,
My "Oh No" was in response to the games being at the same time. Odd scheduling it seems to me.
Go Hammies and Dragons. If Lotte wins and the dreaded moneybags YGs win then it's go Bobby and crew in the final Series.
My "Oh No" was in response to the games being at the same time. Odd scheduling it seems to me.
Go Hammies and Dragons. If Lotte wins and the dreaded moneybags YGs win then it's go Bobby and crew in the final Series.
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The Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters just need one more win to move on to the Nippon Series. The Chiba Lotte Marines need to win both today and Thursday.