September 4th Fukuhara v Yoshihara - No game

This game was called due to rain. However as it did not go to five innings it was a no game. The stats and the score do not count. This means that the Magic number will remain alive (if Tigers had lost it would have switched off). Signs of improvement were detectable in a game played in the most appalling conditions. Okada finally made the necessary change moving Lin to third and Toritani to fifth. Line scores (remember these are for information only)

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

Starting lineups

1. Akahoshi (Centre)
2. Hirano (Second)
3. Lin (Right)
4. Kanemoto (Left)
5. Toritani (Short)
6. Sekimoto (Third)
7. Katsuragi (First)
8. Yano (Catcher)
9. Fukuhara (Pitcher)

BayStars
1. Ishikawa (Short)
2. Nishi (Second)
3. Uchikawa (First)
4. Murata (Third)
5. Yoshimura (Right)
6. Saeki (Left)
7. Kinjoh (Centre)
8. Aikawa (Catcher)
9. Yoshihara (Pitcher)

The game started with an Akahoshi walk. Hirano bunted him to second and then he advanced to third on a Lin fly. This left Kanemoto to bat him in and once again Kanemoto failed. One has to ask what is the point of keeping Kanemoto in the team? He is not doing his job and is occupying space. Slumps happen but Kanemoto has been having too many of them recently. Anyway - end of innings. Fukuhara started well and got the first two outs but then Uchikawa hit. Murata hit suggesting that Fukuhara isn't quite up to speed yet. Yoshimura hit to drive in a run 1-0 BayStars and once again good running from the BayStars. Saeki was next and hit a two run to right 3-0 BayStars and Fukuhara's good start had disintergrated. Kinjoh grounded out but the BayStars were off to a flying start. Tigers second was much better with an immediate response - Yoshihara not being able to hold the lead. Toritani hit a two base. Sekimoto took a dead ball to set up runners on first and second with no outs. Katsuragi flew out but Yano walked to load the bases. Next batter Fukuhara who hit driving in a run 3-1 BayStars. Sekimoto also tried for home but was just tagged out by Aikawa. Akahoshi was next and hit a deep hit to left. Yano was home but Fukuhara who was on first also tried for home. He slid in and made the home plate first sliding through Aikawa to get there 3-3 scores level. This was much better base running by the Tigers - nothing ventured, nothing gained.

BayStars second and with two outs Ishikawa hit but then the rain came down and the players left the field. After a long delay they returned because the rain had slackened (not because it had stopped). Fukuhara faced Nishi but Ishikawa decided to steal and was thrown out by Yano - end of innings. Tigers third was quiet which is surprising given how poorly Yoshihara was pitching - once again Kanemoto failed miserably. He hit towards Ishikawa at short who fumbled. The ball bounced kindly but even so Kanemoto had made no attempt to run quickly but just ambled along. He was out of course. In BayStars third Uchikawa hit with one out - a lucky hit which bounced rather kindly. Fukuhara showing that he needs to speed up got into trouble with Murata and then gave up a hit - runners on first and second. Yoshimura was next and he swung at a ball which luckily fpr him just carried over the left stand wall for a home run 6-3 BayStars. Incidently the crowd was sparse tonight on both sides (well the weather was awful). Saeki flew out and then Kinjoh hit but Aikawa struck out. Then the rain descended with a vengance and after a wait the umpires declared no game.

This was not a BayStars victory and it is unlikely that Yoshihara would have held the lead. Tigers though might have been saved from a second straight sweep and this wasn't a bad thing. There had been signs of some improvement but the Tigers need to play better.
Many thanks to the unnamed guest for the comments and kind words.