October 3rd Standridge v Imai - Murton ties the hits record

The Murton counter stands at 1 now (it's great to tie the record but you should really beat it). This is a fantastic achievement in his first year in Japanese baseball and coupled with 88 RBIs shows a very fine batter. Now let's hope the Swallows do not walk him every at bat but actually give him a chance to hit (Aoki is still also active in the chase). On the subject of Toritani moving to lead off, this is a puzzling move but seems to be working at the moment. Maybe Mayumi felt that he was getting stale but it seems a bit strange. Mayumi will be back next year, not a prospect that fills one with joy but if Tigers can secure a decent rotation and Egusa and Johjima can learn to live together Tigers might actually win the pennant. They will have to decide on a suitable role for Kanemoto though - given Arai's performance in the No. 4 slot Kanemoto would be a mistake at that position. On current performance Kanemoto should not be batting above No. 7 and a more realistic appraisal of his present abilities and contribution is long overdue. Scores

        1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R  H E
Tigers  1 0 0 2 0 3 0 0 1 7 12 0
Carp    0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 2  7 1

Starting lineups

Tigers
1. Toritani (Short)
2. Hirano (Centre)
3. Murton (Right)
4. Arai (Third)
5. Kanemoto (Left)
6. Brazell (First)
7. Johjima (Catcher)
8. Saka (Second)
9. Standridge (Pitcher)

Carp
1. Soyogi (Short)
2. Kimura (Second)
3. Iwamoto (Left)
4. Kurihara (First)
5. Hirose (Right)
6. Maru (Centre)
7. Kokubo (Third)
8. Ishihara (Catcher)
9. Imai (Pitcher)

A good start was needed in this game and Toritani delivered it hitting his third pitch nicely into the right stand 1-0 Tigers. Hirano followed with a hit to right but was forced out by Murton's ground out. Murton made second on Arai's ground out but Kanemoto lined out to short. Imai hadn't started well at all. Standridge also started poorly getting the first out but then walking Kimura. Kurihara hit to centre to set up runners on first and third but here Standridge was better and got Hirose to ground out to end the innings. Tigers second and nothing happened - the batters fell in order. Maru led off Carp's second with a walk - Standridge was still struggling. Kokubo flew out and then Ishihara hit into a welcome double play. This settled Standridge and his pitching would improve. Hirano managed to pick up a walk in Tigers third but Murton flew out to end the innings. Carp's third was quiet with Standridge picking up a couple of strikeouts. He had found his rhythm.

Imai apart from the first had handled the second and third pretty competently but then started Tigers fourth with a hit to Arai. Next was Kanemoto who got hold of a loose pitch and dropped it nicely into the right centre stand for a two run home run 3-0 Tigers. This, I believe, is his first home run at Mazda Stadium. Brazell struck out but Johjima hit a two base to left. However, Saka failed to move him round and with the last batter being Standridge a run was unlikely. Standridge struck out looking. He started Carp's fourth nicely though getting Iwamoto to swing too early and fly out to Johjima. Kurihara and Hirose grounded out and that was that. Tigers fifth was quiet with the last batter being Murton who once again failed to hit and flew out to centre. He was still marooned on 209 hits. Johjima had thrown poorly on Friday in the match against Soriano and now had a chance to redeem himself. Maru hit to centre - runner on first. Kokubo tried to bunt and popped one up to Johjima who took the catch and then threw to second for the double play. A very fine piece of work. Ishihara was the final batter of the innings, grounding out rapidly. Imai finally fell apart in Tigers sixth. He had given up runs but the signs had been there even earlier. Arai led off with a two base hit and Kanemoto hit setting up runners on first and third. Brazell hit a grounder to second which brought Arai home 4-0 Tigers and put Shunsuke Fujikawa (pinch running for Kanemoto) onto second. Johjima was next and took a huge swing at his third pitch which went along the left baseline but stayed fair for a two run home run 6-0 Tigers. Saka hit but was out trying to steal second as Standridge struck out to end the innings. With one out in Carp's sixth Soyogi walked and then Kimura hit to set up runners on first and second. Iwamoto hit to right as Carp tried to generate some momentum and runs. It brought Soyogi home and put Kimura on third with Iwamoto on first 6-1 Tigers. Standridge struck Kurihara out swinging and Carp missed out on the sacrifice and then Hirose hit to centre where Shunsuke Fujikawa took the catch to end the innings. Carp hadn't scored enough to seriously challenge the Tigers dominance.

Ohshima pitched Tigers seventh and with two out faced Murton who was still looking for that elusive tying hit. This time he hit over short into left and there it was 210 hits and equal first place. Arai followed with a ground out to end the innings. Maru led off Carp's seventh with a hit but this time Kokubo didn't try the bunt and instead flew out right. Ishihara flew out and Amaya (replacment centre) struck out. Standridge had pitched seven very competent innings giving up only one run. For Tigers eighth the pitcher was Ueno who gave up a hit to Johjima. Nothing came of this and the innings was scoreless. Watanabe was chosen for Carp's eighth and was in nervous incapable mode. He started with a two base hit to Soyogi and then dead balled Kimura - runners on first and second. Iwamoto hit to right bringing home the runner 6-2 Carp, runners on first and third and no outs. This was enough and Mayumi quickly brought on Kubota. Kubota then smoothly squelched Carp's hopes. Kurihara flew out to first and then Shima found himself hitting straight to first for the double play. Nakata took Tigers ninth and walked Sekimoto (replacement first). With Toritani out, Hirano grounded out to second and Kimura messed things up, runners on first and second. Murton flew out to centre, no record for him this game but Arai hit very smoothly to right for a two base 7-2 Tigers, runners on second and third. Shunsuke Fujikawa was the No. 5 though and he struck out looking. Kyuji Fujikawa pitched Carp's ninth and as if chastened by his poor performance against the BayStars was at his best striking out all three batters to end the game. Tigers victory.

A very good victory for the Tigers but tinged with a sense of what might have been. Both Tigers and Giants now have three games each left. If they both win all their games Tigers are assured of second place and home advantage in the first stage of the Climax series. The same applies if they win more than the Giants. Of course if the Giants win more than the Tigers then the Tigers travel to Tokyo Dome. One more hit for Murton to take the hits record - let's hope this happens at Jingu on Tuesday.