June 14th Standridge v Nishiguchi - It's Ryota's day

Tigers management came in for some criticism from stockholders during the AGM. The issue was the purchase of free agents, particularly Johjima and Kobayashi. Both haven't justified their investment yet. The club president, Minami, promised to do more about developing talent. Given that Tigers management were considering trying to get Fukudome - don't hold your breath. They seem to be hypnotised by name and age not by ability. Komiyama and Standridge's inability to get one was on display this game and Wada replaced his catcher with Imanari. He was much improved and set up a situation where Tigers could look at victory. To be honest though Standridge wasn't very good and needs to lift his game considerably. Fujii is not to be hurried back (meaning that the top team doesn't really want him) but he should be fit by the end of the All Star games. Fukuhara closed out the game as Fujikawa had caught his foot on a mat and strained his knee. Fukuhara did well in the game and Tigers managed to tie the series with Lions 2-2. Scores

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

Starting lineups

1. Nohara (Right)
2. Hirano (Second)
3. Toritani (Short)
4. Kanemoto (DH)
5. Takahiro Arai (Third)
6. Brazell (First)
7. Ryota Arai (Left)
8. Shibata (Centre)
9. Komiyama (Catcher)

Starting pitcher: Standridge

Lions
1. Kataoka (Second)
2. Kuriyama (Left)
3. Nakajima (Short)
4. Nakamura (First)
5. Akiyama (Centre)
6. German (Third)
7. Osaki (Right)
8. Sumitani (Catcher)
9. Uemoto (DH)

Starting pitcher: Nishiguchi

The interesting feature of this lineup was the insertion of Nohara into the lineup as leadoff. It can't be said to have been a success but it's only one game and we will see how things develop. Ryota Arai moved round to left and Shibata returned. This was a retrograde step and Shibata needs to be kept out of the lineup for much longer than is happening. Murrton was kept out of the lineup again but this time it was for poor performance not anything he said. Kanemoto continued to waste opportunities but Wada seems determined to embarrass himself. Tigers first started quietly with Nohara striking out and Hirano flying out to right. Then Toritani put his first pitch over centre for a two base hit. Kanemoto struck out to end the innings like he normally does. Standridge did not start well and gave up a single to Kataoka on a full count. He tried to steal second but was thrown out by Komiyama. Kuriyama flew out to left on a full count and then after taking a full count Nakajima hit deep to centre 1-0 Lions. Finally, Nakamura struck out - the only batter that innings not to take a full count. With one out in Tigers second Brazell drove another two base to right. Once agian Tigers had a good chance to score but once again they failed. Both Ryota Arai and Shibata flew out. Things got worse in Lions second.Akiyama led the innings off with a single. A passball took him to second and then Standridge walked German. Osaki bunted the runners to second and third - a typical stupid bunt. Sumitani singled right bringing in a run 2-0 Lions, runners on first and third. Then Uemoto hit right as well and brought home another run 3-0 Lions, runners on first and second. Kataoka flew out and finally Kuriyama lined out to HIrano. Things hadn't gone well for Tigers. Nohara drew a one out walk in Tigers third and made second on Hirano's ground out to third. This time it was Toritani's turn to fail as he also grounded out to third. In Lions third Nakamura walked and tried to steal second. He was thrown out. Akiyama also struck out and the innings was over.

Tigers had wasted chances in their first three innings which showed that Nishiguchi wasn't exactly the super pitcher Ishii was. Kanemoto led off with a walk. A wild pitch took him to second but Takahiro Arai struck out looking. Brazell hit right and Kanemoto ambled to third with Brazell on first. Then Ryota Arai also hit right bringing in the run 3-1 Lions, runners on first and second. Shibata struck out and then Imanari (pinch hitter) flew out to right to end the innings. The use of a pinch hitter at this stage was strange to say the least and almost certainly unnecessary. Still it gave Imanari a chance behind the plate. He too struggled with Standridge. The Tigers pitcher walked German to start the Lions fourth. Osaki flew out in foul ground and then Sumitani took a dead ball. Lions tried a double steal but Imanari was able to take out Sumitani leaving a runner on third. Uemoto struck out swinging to end the innings. Tigers fifth was another wasted opportunity. With Nohara out, Hirano singled left. Toritani hit straight to Kataoka who completely messed up allowing runners on first and second. Then Kanemoto singled left but once again Hirano was held up on third and the bases were loaded. A costly mistake. Arai hit to centre but not far enough for Hirano to feel tempted to try for the sacrifice. Then Brazell flew out to third to end the innings. Another wasted opportunity but given the rate at which the Lions were giving Tigers chances there would be others. Standridge then produced what was in the context of this game a rare thing - a 1-2-3 innings. Kataoka grounded out, Kuriyama put the ball into Nohara's glove and then Nakajima struck out to end the innings. Once again Tigers got a chance to score and in the sixth Shibata singled with one out. Imanari hit right to set up runners on first and second. Nohara grounded out to Nishiguchi forcing out Imanari but setting up runners on first and third. However, it was the end for Nishiguchi who was repaced by Matsunaga. He faced Hirano who singled left and brought home Shibata 3-2 Lions, runners on first and second. Things were getting close. Toritani walked to load the bases and then Kanemoto who could have at least tied the game snatched at the ball and flew out to short to end the innings. Standridge returned for Lions sixth - a surprising decision given how poorly he had pitched. He walked Asamura (replacement first) who was stupid bunted to second by Akiyama. German grounded out to short taking the runner to third and then Standridge walked Osaki in four - runners on first and third. Next Sumitani also walked in four to load the bases. Standridge needed to go and he was replaced on the mound by Tsutsui. This did the trick with Hirao (pinch hitter) flying out to right to end the innings.

Micheal took over for Tigers seventh and didn't prosper. Takahiro led off with a classic left centre two base hit. Brazell struck out but Ryota Arai hit to centre bringing his brother home 3-3 scores tied, runner on first. He was pinch run for by Yamato who stole second - Tigers were playing with more urgency now. Shibata though flew out to right but Yamato did tag up and take third. Imanari worked the count full but struck out. Still Tigers had eliminated the Lions lead and now had the psychological advantage. Osada pitched Tigers eighth and struck out Murton (pinch hitter) looking. Then Hirano and Toritani both flew and the innings was scoreless. Enokida took Lions eighth and was very effective with Imanari. - the three batters fell in order. Once again we saw Williams and he started with a single to Kanemoto. Takahiro Arai singled left to set up runners on first and second. This was likely Tigers last chance to win the game. Brazell hit deep to centre and Tagami (pinch running for Kanemoto) tagged up and took third. Yamato hit back to Williams who could only throw to first by the time he took the ball. Tagami was home 4-3 Tigers, runner on second. Sekimoto (pinch hitter) walked but finally Asai struck out swinging to end the innings. All the chances they had received had allowed the Tigers to take the lead. They needed to hold it and with Fujikawa hors de combat Wada turned to Fukuhara. He has been pitching well in relief and so was a logical choice. However, he changed his catcher bringing on Okazaki. This was risky in the extreme but both the catcher and the pitcher worked well for a change. Abe (pinch hitter) struck out looking to one of Fukuhara's inside curves and then Yoneno struck out swinging for the second out. The final batter was Hirao who swung too soon and flew out to Toritani to end the game. Tigers victory.

Tigers hadn't so much won as ground out a victory. They had wasted chance after chance but converted enough to just sneek a win. 4 runs on 13 hits is once again a poor return. The win went to Enokida and the save to Fukuhara. Standridge had been dismal but his fifth innings had been vital to the victory. It gave the Tigers a bit of breathing space. One can't say that the Lions pitchers gave them such relief. Tigers had runners on for 8 out of the nine innings. They hadn't been the Keystone innings but this is not a game they will want to look back on with affection. Tigers have the day off then play the final two games of the inter league bore with the Marines. Then a long break for the All Star games and a chance to regroup.