May 19th Nohmi v Wakui - Wakui stifled

Another enjoyable victory for Tigers fans. It didn't look like that at the start though as Seibu raced to a three run lead off some poor work by Nohmi. However, he settled down and Wakui was the one who faltered being unable to get out of the fourth. Nohmi retired in the fifth on 99 pitches which makes one almost fall off one's chair at the good sense this showed. Let's hope this ray of good sense produces a trend and that starters are not asked to throw 130 plus pitches. Scores

        1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9  R  H E
Tigers  0 2 0 5 0 2 1 0 0 10  9 2
Lions   2 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 0  5 10 1

Starting Lineups

Tigers
1. Nishioka (Second)
2. Maeda (Centre)
3. Toritani (Short)
4. Murton (DH)
5. Takahiro Arai (First)
6. Imanari (Left)
7. Ryota Arai (Third)
8. Fujii (Catcher)
9. Shibata (Right)

Starting Pitcher was Nohmi

Lions
1. Asamura (First)
2. Akiyama (Centre)
3. Kuriyama (Left)
4. Ortiz (DH)
5. German (Third)
6. Sakata (Right)
7. Kataoka (Second)
8. Sumitani (Catcher)
9. Nagae (Short)

Starting Pitcher was Wakui

Under the Pacific League rules teams get to play DH and Wada nominated Murton for the role. He had been thinking of this before inter league to rest Murton and also the Arai brothers. Imanari took over the left field duties - an indication if any were needed that he is not catcher material. Tigers started quietly with two outs and then Wakui dead balled Toritani. Toritani stole second on a fork which bounced in front of Murton. It was a chance but Murton flew out to end the innings. Nohmi didn't start well at all and with poor calling from his catcher struggled. The first blow came in the first at bat, Asamura banging a straight over the fence for a lead off home run 1-0 Lions. Akiyama singled to centre and with one out stole second. Ortiz then hit into the left corner to bring in the run 2-0 Lions, runner on second. German singled to centre - runners on first and third. A sacrifice fly would have probably blown the game open for Lions but instead Sakada opted for a grounder which was nicely fielded by Nishioka for an innings ending double play. Arai led off Tigers second singling to centre. Imanari in an indicator that all was not well with Wakui doubled right setting up runners on second and third. Ryota walked to load the bases and then Fujii who doesn't normally do well in bases loaded situations singled right bringing in one run 2-1 Lions, bases loaded. A wild pitch brought in another run 2-2 scores tied, runners on second and third. Shibata grounded out and then Nishioka struck out swinging. Finally, Yamato flew out but Tigers were level. They wouldn't hold it long though. Kataoka got hold of his second pitch to put it over the fence for solo home run 3-2 Lions. The next three batters then failed to do anything. Tigers third saw Murton single right but with no support he was stranded on first. Lions third and Nohmi continued to struggle. He got the first two outs but then Ortiz hit a grounder which bounced off Nohmi's glove allowing Ortiz to reach first safely. Then German hit a double into right - runners on second and third. Sakada got it right and hit into centre to bring in both runners 5-2 Lions. Adding insult to injury Sakada was able to take second - fielding in this game was poor from both teams. Kataoka struck out to end the innings

A three run margin was a pretty big margin to overhaul but with Wakui's help Tigers set about it rather successfully. Ryota drew a lead off walk for Tigers fourth. Fujii singled left putting runners on first and second. The inevitable bunt was laid down, this time by Shibata which took the runners to second and third. However, instead of completing the out successfully Asamura fumbled and allowed Shibata to reach first and load the bases with no outs. Wakui went to pieces and walked Nishioka - oshidashi 5-3 Lions, bases loaded. This brought a pitching change, Sakamoto rapidly taking over. He was no better walking Yamato - another oshidashi 5-4 Lions, bases loaded. Toritani doubled to right centre to bring in two more runs 6-5 Tigers, runners on second and third. Murton hit deep to left for a sacrifice fly 7-5 Tigers, runner on third, Toritani tagging up nicely. Arai flew out and finally Imanari struck out to end the innings. Tigers had taken full advantage of Lions incompetence. The thing was could Nohmi hold his new lead? He walked Nagae with one out in Lions fourth - it didn't look good. Another out followed but then Akiyama singled - Lions now had runners on first and third. Finally, Kuriyama grounded out to second to end the innings. Nohmi had just survived. Iwao took over for Tigers fifth and walked Ryota. Then a really stupid bunt - Fujii who had hit nicely was asked to bunt Ryota to second. When you have a batter who is hot let him hit. Shibata grounded out which took Ryota to third and then Nishioka flew out to left - a wasted chance. Lions fifth was quiet with German and Kumashiro (replacement right) both lining out to Toritani. Iwao got the first out of Tigers sixth and then walked Toritani. Murton flew out which brought up Arai. He swung and hit nicely for a two run home run 9-5 Tigers and now Tigers were beginning to pull away. Imanari grounded out to end the innings. Wisely Nohmi was replaced by Tsutsui for Lions sixth. The batters fell in order with two striking out. It seemed as if the fight had gone out of the Lions.

Tigers seventh was pitched by Okamoto. He walked Ryota who had collected four walks by now. Once again came the idiocy of having Fujii bunt - runner on second (this being Saka pinch running for Ryota). Shibata singled and thinking that Saka would go for home rounded first. Saka stopped on third though and Shibata was tagged out going for second. He would be punished for this error - being pulled from the game. Once again poor management - mistakes happen. Saka was able to reach home on a wild pitch though 10-5 Tigers, Nishioka walked before Yamato's fly put the Lions out of their misery. Lions seventh saw the batters try to hit out but all flew out and no one reached base. Koishi pitched Tigers eighth and walked Murton with one out. He stayed on first as the next two batters flew out. Andoh pitched the Lions eighth and looks to be deteroriating. Ortiz singled and then made second on German's ground out. Osaki (replacement right) took a dead ball and then Kataoka grounded out taking the runners to second and third. Finally Hoshi (replacement catcher) flew out to end the innings. Andoh had managed to survive. Tigers ninth saw Tagami single with two out. He tried to steal but was caught for the final out. Lions ninth was pitched by Andoh who got the first out. He was then replaced by Kubo for the final two outs. Game over and Tigers victory.

A very good win for Tigers who had overcome a poor start to successfully build a commanding lead and hold it. Lions should have done better but had through poor fielding and work squandered a very good position. Nohmi picked up the win despite not being at his best and once again Arai had hit well. Lions shouldn't be quite so slack next game but are still beatable.


[Edited by: Christopher on May 21, 2013 7:34 AM]