May 28th Andoh v Wakui - Tigers turn to be surprised

Whilst Shimoyanagi was accomplished Andoh was not. Wakui wasn't impressive and didn't even finish six innings but then Andoh was the same. Tigers relief was merely average but Tigers batters should have done more against Seibu's relief. Box scores

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

Starting lineups

Lions
1. Kataoka (Second)
2. Kuriyama (Left)
3. Nakajima (Short)
4. Nakamura (Third)
5. Yoshihito Ishii (First)
6. G. G. Sato (Right)
7. Ohsaki (Centre)
8. Uemoto (Catcher)
9. Wakui (Pitcher)

Tigers
1. Akahoshi (Centre)
2. Sekimoto (First)
3. Toritani (Short)
4. Kanemoto (Left)
5. Arai (Third)
6. Katsuragi (Right)
7. Hirano (Second)
8. Kanoh (Catcher)
9. Andoh (Pitcher)

Andoh would start well and retire the batters in order in Lions first. Wakui would struggle in Tigers first. Akahoshi led off with a hit. This led to a Sekimoto bunt and with two outs Kanemoto hit a two run home run 2-0 Tigers. Arai flew out and the innings was over. Andoh though was not good and failed to hold the lead spectacularly. He started the Lions second with a walk to Nakamura and then gave up a one out two run home run to Sato 2-2 scores tied. He wasn't finished and gave up a two base hit to Ohsaki. One out later this brought up Wakui who also hit a two base - when do pitchers hit two bases? This was poor pitching of the first order and not what you expect from Tigers pitchers 3-2 Lions runner on second. Kataoka flew out and the innings was over. Katsuragi led off Tigers second with a hit but he stayed on first as Wakui retired the next three batters. In Lions third Kuriyama led off with a two base hit (this is more what you expect) and mad third on a one out ground out but got no further. Tigers third started with Akahoshi hitting a two base and Sekimoto walking, runners on first and second with no outs. Toritani flew out which took Akahoshi to third and then Kanemoto walked to load the bases. A wild pitch brought Akahoshi home 3-3 scores tied and runners on second and third. With one out Tigers should have made better use of the chance. Arai flew out to centre but Sekimoto didn't feel he could try for home and then Wakui dead balled Katsuragi to load the bases again. Hirano struck out to end the innings but this had been a waste by a very conservative Tigers.

Lions fourth saw Sato lead off with a hit and reach second on a bunt but go no further. Tigers fourth was quiet with the batters falling in order. Lions fifth was also quiet as Andoh also retired the batters in order. Tigers fifth finished quietly as well. Andoh seems to have transferred his trouble in the fifth to the sixth and this innings was no exception. Nakamura led off with a two base hit and was bunted to third. Andoh then walked Sato and Tigers were in serious trouble. Mayumi decided a pitching change was in order and went with Egusa which is normally a very good decision. Not this time, he walked Hirao (pinch hitter) to load the bases and then gave up a two base timely hit to Satoh (pinch hitter) 5-3 Lions runners on second qnd third. Wakui he struck out which was the right thing to do and then he got Kataoka to ground out to end the innings but a poor display from both pitchers. Arai hit to lead off Tigers sixth and then stole second which in itself is surprising. A Hirano hit took him to third and Hirano to first and then Kanoh grounded out but the runner was home 5-4 Lions runner on second. Hiyama (pinch hitter) was next and he faced Mitsui who replaced Wakui. This was successful and Hiyama struck out to end the innings.

After Egusa, Mayumi chose Atchison. He was very successful retiring the batters in order. Unfortunately for Tigers so was Mitsui who pitched their seventh and did exactly the same. Williams pitched the Lions eighth and was at his best, the batters also falling in order. For Tigers eighth Watanabe chose Nishiguchi who ran into problems, issuing a lead off walk to Kanemoto and then a walk to Arai. One out later Hirano hit and the bases were loaded with one out - a great chance. Kanoh hit into a double play and the innings finished without score, another waste. Lions ninth saw Watanabe who hasn't been as effective or as prominent under Mayumi as he was under Okada. With two outs he gave up a hit to Kataoka. Kataoka stole second and then Kuriyama hit a three base 6-4 Lions and poor pitching for the final out. Nakashima grounded out to make this a reality. Tigers ninth was a non-event. The Lions pitcher was Onodera and he got all three batters he faced to ground out. Lions victory.

Tigers had wasted their chances and Lions had taken theirs. Some poor pitching by Tigers had given the Lions chances but Tigers hadn't really taken advantage of the poor pitching by the Lions. They really should have done more in the third when they had Wakui on the rack but let him escape with only one run damage. It is to be hoped that Brazell can add an extra ability to hit but the question has to be asked - why are they only considering him now and not at the beginning of the season?