April 29th Kubo v Yamamoto - A win is a win is a win

Needing to do something to arrest their non-performance Tigers turned to their ace, Kubo. He delivered in spades producing an intelligent, dominating performance which completely stopped the hot Swallows dead. Starting Lin also showed how much more productive he was than Kanemoto who had another day off. The question is why is Iwata (who is not ready) in the top of the rotation and Kubo isn't? Inquiring minds would like to know. Scores

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

Starting lineups

Swallows
1. Aoki (Centre)
2. Tanaka (Second)
3. Iihara (Left)
4. Hatakeyama (Third)
5. Whitesell (Right)
6. Balentien (First)
7. Kawabata (Short)
8. Kawamoto (Catcher)
9. Yamamoto (Pitcher)

Tigers
1. Murton (Right)
2. Hirano (Second)
3. Toritani (Short)
4. Arai (Third)
5. Brazell (First)
6. Lin (Left)
7. Johjima (Catcher)
8. Shunsuke (Centre)
9. Kubo (Pitcher)

Tigers needed a good start and Kubo delivered. In less than 10 pitches he disposed of the top of the Swallows order. Unfortunately Yamamoto did the same in the bottom of the first and the innings was scoreless. The second was also quiet with both pitchers dominating. Here fate interviened in the Swallows third. Everything was going nicely when Kawamoto stepped up to the plate. He took a swing and deposited the ball over the left fence 1-0 Swallows. The next two batters grounded out and Swallows had a slender lead. Yamamoto protected this lead rather well. Shunsuke hit and was bunted to second by Kubo but then the final batter, Murton flew out and Tigers third was quiet.

Swallows fourth was also quiet which kind of made the home run look like an aberation. For Yamamoto though Tigers fourth was pretty tempestuous. With one out Toritani walked. Arai hit a nice two base to set up runners on second and third but Brazell flew out in foul ground. It began to look like Tigers would blow the chance. However, this time the No. 6 wasn't Kanemoto but Lin. He took two strikes but hit into right centre for a timely two base hit 2-1 Tigers, runner on second. The next wo batters couldn't do anything but Tigers now held the slender lead. Kubo then protected this lead and the Swallows fifth was also quiet. Here things really went wrong for the Swallows. Yamamoto got the first two outs of the Tigers fifth but then ran into trouble on the final out. He gave up a hit to Murton and then walked both Hirano and Toritani to load the bases. Next batter Arai. He has been Tigers best batter and showed it hitting to left and bringing home two runners 4-1 Tigers runers on first and second. This saw the end of Yamamoto who had been effective in the early stages but had rapidly lost it from the fourth. Kyuko took over and got Brazell to ground out to first on his first pitch to end the innings. Kubo kept Swallows under control in their sixth. Oshimoto replaced Kyuko for Tigers sixth and was similarly effective but Tigers had a commanding lead.

Tanaka led off Swallows seventh with a hit but immediately fell to a double play as Iihara hit to Hirano. Next was Hatakeyama who also hit his first pitch straight to a fielder, this time first. Mayumi decided to pitch Kubo in the Swallows eighth (based on pitch count of course) and so he led off Tigers seventh grounding out, the pitcher being Hashimoot. But then Murton and Hirano both hit and Tigers had runners on first and second. They didn't get any further as Toritani and Arai both fell. Swallows eighth started very badly for Kubo - he gave up a two base hit to Whitesell and then walked Balentien. Oops but here he was able to summon his final reserves. Both Kawabata and Kawamoto struck out swinging and then Miyamoto (pinch hitter) flew out to right and the innings was over. Tigers eighth was pitched by Matsui who retired his three batters in order. Mayumi decided not to attempt a complete game for Kubo - a very wise decision. Kubo had been magnificent with only three hits and a walk in his eight innings. Nine innings though would have probably been too much. Fujikawa pitched the Swallows ninth. He retired the three batters he faced in order. Tigers victory.

Brilliant pitching by Kubo had given Tigers a much needed victory. Both Arai and Lin had come through when needed with big hits but the stupidity of LIn relieving Kanemoto was also exposed. Lin should be the starting left and Kanemoto the relief. Kubo picked up his second win and Kyuji his fourth save. One hopes that Tigers have turned the corner with this victory.