This is a site about Pro Yakyu (Japanese Baseball), not about who the next player to go over to MLB is. It's a community of Pro Yakyu fans who have come together to share their knowledge and opinions with the world. It's a place to follow teams and individuals playing baseball in Japan (and Asia), and to learn about Japanese (and Asian) culture through baseball.
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Michael Westbay
(aka westbaystars)
Founder
For rookie Shoichi Inoh, starting his second game, four consecutive hits in the top of the 6th inning turned the tides in favor of the Carp, tagging the #3 draft pick last fall with his second loss of the season.
Before the 6th inning, Inoh looked pretty good. Sure, he gave up 3 hits and walked 4. The biggest threat before then being a bases loaded with one out situation in the 4th inning where he beard down and struck out number 8 batter Yoshiyuki Ishihara and got opposing starter Bryan Bullington to ground out back to him. In all, he struck out 8 Carp through the first 5 innings.
The lineup for Yokohama saw a bit of a shake up. Nyjer Morgan dropped from the number 3 slot down to number 7 while Nori (Norihiro Nakamura) was moved up to the number 3 slot. 1 for 4 on the night, Nori drove in the only BayStar run in the bottom of the 4th when he grounded out to second following Kensuke Uchimura's leadoff triple to right.
Tony Blanco got in some good swings, but ended the night 1 for 4. Alex Ramirez finally got his 2,001st career hit, singling to left with two down in the 9th. Sho Aranami, hitting behind Ramirez, had a pair of hits, getting his batting average up to .300. And starting pitcher Inoh even managed an infield hit. So there wasn't a lack of base runners.
In four home games this season, Yokohama has now been outscored 12-17 against the Giants and 3-14 versus Hiroshima. We've got to start winning at home if we're going to be in any shape at all to challenge for the Climax Series. After tonight's (April 11) final game of the home stand, it's off to Kansai to face Hanshin for three games, then to Hiroshima for three games against the Carp, returning home April 19. Winning 2/3rds on the road doesn't cancel out winning 0% at home. Yokohama really needs a winning send off.