T-Signs in Saitama - June 15, 2013

Yokohama's Nyjer Morgan was flashing his T-sign (for Tony Plush) throughout the day at Seibu Dome in Saitama this afternoon, going 3 for 5 with a 3-run line drive home run in the top of the 3rd that turned the game around.

The game could have gotten off to a better start. After the BayStars failed to score in the 1st, despite a 2-out double by Morgan and a walk to Tony Blanco, Seibu waisted no time getting on the board, Shogo Akiyama hitting a solo home run to left to lead off the bottom of the 1st. A 1-out walk followed by a double off of Hideto Asamura's bat added another run, Seibu taking a quick 2-0 lead.

After Morgan's 3-run gyaku-ten home run in the 3rd, bringing the score to 3-2, everything seemed to fall Yokohama's way. Kinjoh was hit with a pitch to start the 4th, then chugged all the way around the bases when Kajitani doubled to left. I wasn't sure if Kinjoh would make it, but he did. Yokohama goes up 4-2.

Nori came up an inning later with two down and a runner on, and he connected, hitting the ball deep to the BayStars' oendan in left field. That put Yokohama up 6-2 in the 5th inning.

A leadoff walk to Ishikawa in the top of the 7th led to another insurance run, the BayStars taking a 7-2 lead, which would be the final.

But Seibu had a lot of chances. Mishima allowed 9 hits and walked 4 through 5⅓ innings. The BayStars only turned 1 double play, and didn't catch anyone stealing. The relief corp came through, allowing just 2 hits thereafter, both after two outs had occurred in their respective innings. The one double play occurred after two hit batters and a walk, ending the 7th inning Seibu threat. With all those base runners, it should come as no surprise that the home team stranded 15 lions on the base paths.

It's good to break a potential losing streak before it starts.