June 6th Fukuhara v Vogelsong - Oishi biiru nomitai

Which means 'I want to have a nice beer' (rough translation) and was one of Fukuhara's answers to a question in an earlier hero interview also after his complete game shutout. This is part of the reason why Tigers fans are quite fond of him, unpredictable though he may be. He has a vicious curve which when it works well is devastating and he normally pitches well against Orix so he was a good choice. He would employ his curve brilliantly in this game. Brazell did well once again, no home runs but managing to get on base. Box scores

           1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R  H E
Buffaloes  0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0  5 0
Tigers     0 0 1 3 1 2 0 0 X 7 13 1

Starting lineups

Buffaloes
1. Ohmura (Right)
2. Sakaguchi (Centre)
3. Fernandez (First)
4. LaRocca (Third)
5. Hidaka (Catcher)
6. Ohbiki (Short)
7. Yamasaki (Second)
8. Oze (Left)
9. Vogelsong (Pitcher)

Tigers
1. Toritani (Short)
2. Akahoshi (Centre)
3. Sekimoto (Second)
4. Kanemoto (Left)
5. Arai (Third)
6. Brazell (First)
7. Lin (Right)
8. Kanoh (Catcher)
9. Fukuhara (Pitcher)

This game reads like a koko yakyu manga - Fukuhara had a dream game and with only five hits and one walk over his nine innings was completely dominant. More surprising were his three RBIs (yes three RBIs!). He started Orix's first with a two out hit to Fernandez but then got LaRocca to ground out and end the innings. Ohishi obviously thought that it was a good idea to start Vogelsong against his old side and that he would do well. Indeed, he did start well, giving up a hit to Sekimoto but then striking out Kanemoto to exit the Tigers first without any problems. Fukuhara walked Yamasaki with two out in Orix's second (his only walk) but then retired Oze to end the innings. Tigers second saw the batters fall in order and Vogelsong was still in control. In Orix's third a two out hit put Sakaguchi on first. Fernandez was next and he hit an enormous fly which just dropped short of the left fence into Kanemoto's glove. The Tigers left had judged the ball to perfection positioning and timing his take just right to end the innings. The Vogelsong gamble began to come off the rails in the Tigers third. The reason Tigers jettesoned Vogelsong was that he couldn't go deep as a starter and he wasn't good enough to be retained for a relief pitcher. Here he proceeded to demonstrate why Tigers were right to get rid of him. Kanoh led the innings off with a hit to centre. Fukuhara tried to bunt but ended up flying out in foul ground. Toritani flew out as well and it looked like Kanoh would go nowhere. However, he decided to try and steal second with Akahoshi at the plate and was successful. Akahoshi then hit to left and Kanoh was round third as the ball landed and safely home 1-0 Tigers runner on first. Orix's pitching coach came out for a chat with Vogelsong mainly to reassure him. Akahoshi then stole second as well but a fine pitch from Vogelsong struck Sekimoto out looking to end the innings. Still a valuable lead for the Tigers.

Orix's fourth was quiet as Fukuhara retired the batters in order. But in Tigers fourth Vogelsong really started to disintergrate. With one out Arai hit. The next three batters hit their first pitch successfully which should have had the alarm bells ringing. Firstly Brazell hit. Then Lin drove his pitch to right driving in Arai 2-0 Tigers, runners on first and second. Kanoh's hit went to centre and loaded the bases, Brazell not being particularly fast. This brought up Fukuhara, what could he do? After taking a strike he hit a bump ball over first into right for a hit. This was very lucky but it drove two batters in 4-0 Tigers runners on first and second. This was the end for Vogelsong. When he goes, he goes rapidly and this game was no exception. Kawagoe took the mound and faced Toritani who promptly hit into a double play to end the innings. Orix's fifth was quiet - they were unable to exploit the fact that Fukuhara had been on base. Kawagoe, even though he had got Orix out of the Tigers fourth without further damage couldn't repeat the feat in the Tigers fifth and with one out gave up a hit to Sekimoto. Kanemoto was next and he also hit setting up runners on first and third. Arai hit towards short who fielded nicely but not with enough time to stop Sekimoto making home 5-0 Tigers, runner on second. Kawagoe left the mound to be replaced by Shimizu who struck Brazell out with a fine inside shuuto to end the innings. However, Tigers were in a commanding position. Would Fukuhara be able to hold all these runs though? Orix were determined to test this in their sixth. Ohbiki led off with a hit, followed immediately by a hit from Sakaguchi, runners on first and second with no outs. Fernandez followed and he hit into a double play but there was still a runner on third. LaRocca then worked the count full but with his fifth pitch fouled it behind. Kanoh was under it but dropped the ball - a big let off and Kanoh's only weakness. Fukuhara didn't let this worry him and for his seventh pitch unleashed his curve. LaRocca totally missed it and was struck out looking to end the innings, a great pitch. Surprisingly for Tigers sixth Orix replaced Shimizu with Kamoshida who proved singularly ineffective. He faced Sakurai (replacement right) and why it was necessary to replace Lin escapes me. Why replace a performing batter? Its not as if Sakurai adds speed and even though he is a fine player I don't see the necessity of the move. Anyway Sakurai walked as Kamoshida struggled with his control. Kanoh was next and he again hit to centre setting up runners on first and second still with no outs. Then came Fukuhara again. He took a foul ball and shaped to bunt which he converted into a hit. Once again he drove the ball into the ground bouncing it over second this time for a hit and another run 6-0 Tigers, runners on first and third. Truely lucky but Fukuhara was having a good time even if Orix weren't. Toritani followed and hit the ball deep to left where it just cleared the mispositioned fielder's glove for a timely hit 7-0 Tigers runners on second and third with no outs. The next three batters failed to convert the runners though but with a seven run lead this wasn't so vital.

Fukuhara was untouchable in Orix's seventh - striking out all three batters he faced (he would finish with 10 strikouts in all). In Tigers seventh Brazell walked with one out, a very nice intelligent piece of work by the Tigers first. He was pinch run for by Katsuragi (replacement first) and has shown a lot of promise in his first two games. His option selection has been very sound and once again one wonders why he wasn't considered at the beginning of the season instead of Mench. Sakurai followed and he guided the ball straight into the glove of Fernandez who was near enough first to pick off Katsuragi as well and end the innings. With two out in Orix's eighth Ohbiki hit. Once again Fukuhara deployed his curve, this time an outside curve. Once again it was untouchable and this time it was Sakaguchi who struck out looking. Tigers eighth was pitched by Leicester who retried the batters in order. Fukuhara having pitched eight innings returned for Orix's ninth. By now they were a beaten side. Fernandez hit towards right but a superb dive by Katsuragi prevented the hit and got the out. LaRocca failed to clear Sekimoto and then Hidaka flew out to end the innings. Tigers victory.

A fine pitching display by Fukuhara who rightfully took the hero interview with Kanoh. The latter apologised for his error in dropping the ball but apart from that had been superb. Tigers had totally shut down Orix over the two games and really dominated. Errors were down from the evening before by both teams and the fielding had been of the highest standard. Tigers have now won three games in a row, the first time for ages.