'Stars Win 7 in a Row - Reach 3rd

The Yokohama BayStars have finally pulled themselves up to A-class (the top three) for the first time since April 4, the first week of the season!  While it's been a greatly improved pitching staff that deserves the credit, it was the return of the "machine gun" offense last night that did it.

There's the right way, the wrong way, and Mori's way.  Mori-kantoku has started to lay off the bunt a bit (and only a bit) lately and the offense has answered pretty well.  But it's the pitching this past month that has done a complete 180 to make the 'Stars a condender, going from 12 games under .500 to 1, just 3 games below the 2nd place Giants, 8 back of Yakult.

For example.  Last night the 'Stars layed down sacrifice bunts in the first and 6th innings, and managed one run in each.  In the third inning, with two down and nobody on, it was a walk and three hits (one Tanida's 2nd home run of the season - a three run shot) that turned the game Yokohama's way, temporarilly.

Then, in extra innings, against the normally sure pitching Sasaoka, the "machine gun" came alive.  In the top of the 10th, Sasaoka couldn't get an out as 6 hits in a row, including Zuber's bases loaded pinch hit lead taking single, then two batters later, Tanishige's second grand slam of the month of July, put the 'Stars up to stay, 11-5.  Thank you, Mori-kantoku, for allowing a big inning without a sacrifice bunt.

The win was Yokohama's 7th in a row.  This streak, started just befoer the All Star break, is the first time they've won as many as 5 in a row, and is reminiscent of the BayStars 1998 10 game streak (with one tie) sandwitching the All Star games and running away with the pennent.  (Yokohama also won 10 in a row with the All Star break in the middle in 1999 as well.  Is this becoming a tradition?)  For the month of July, Yokohama finishes with a 12 and 4 record (1 tie), a .750 winning percentage for the month.  This is how they've faired by month so far:

Month	Wins	Losses	Ties	W%
March	0	1	0	.000
April	9	14	0	.391
May	8	14	1	.364
June	12	9	0	.571
July	12	4	1	.750

Source: Nikkan Sports

Suzuki, Yokohama's #4 batter with but 4 home runs on the year, drove in the first run of the game in the first inning with a single to left.  The single also marked his career 1,000th base hit.  Omedeto!  He becomes the 206th player to reach that mark, getting his first hit on July 1, 1993 against Yakult.

Gambare BayStars!  Let's keep this up.