September 8th Nohmi v Yamamoto - Finally

One hopes Standridge will be asked back next year - as GoTigersRedSox comments he deserves it. But for the first time in Wada's tenure Tigers won a game at Nagoya Dome. It wasn't exactly a classic win - a fielder dithering in the ninth but it was a win and it counts. Tigers wasted chance after chance and so one was surprised but relieved when they did win. It seems that Brazell might be retained - Tigers need a 'genuine' clean up hitter and the foreign option seems to be the most favoured at the moment. The down side is that Kanemoto might be retained as well - what for? It also seems certain that Kyuji Fujikawa is going to go to MLB next season. Scores

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

Tigers
1. Uemoto (Second)
2. Yamato (Centre)
3. Toritani (Short)
4. Ryota Arai (First)
5. Murton (Left)
6. Sekimoto (Third)
7. Kanoh (Right)
8. Fujii (Catcher)
9. Nohmi (Pitcher)

Dragons
1. Ohshima (Centre)
2. Kuramoto (Right)
3. Wada (Left)
4. Blanco (First)
5. Ibata (Short)
6. Morino (Third)
7. Araki (Second)
8. Oda (Catcher)
9. Yamamoto (Pitcher)

Nohmi would pitch superbly - he worked well with Fujii and the idea of using Fujii for some of the pitchers grows in attraction (and you never thought I would say that). Tigers started with a one out single from Yamato. Yamamoto got out of the trouble by inducing a double play from Toritani. Two outs in Dragons first and Wada singled. This didn't help as Blanco struck out swinging in three - some very nice work. Tigers second and we saw a two out single to right from Murton. Given his performance later on Kanoh's ground out to second was uncharacteristic. Things remained tight. The Dragons best chance came in their second. With one out, that nuisance Morino hit a two base to right centre. Araki flew out to right which kept the runner on second. Oda was next and of course Tigers walked him to get at Yamamoto. This worked though Nohmi did pitch a full count - he was obviously a little nervous. Tigers third saw the last two batters in the order out quickly but then Uemoto walked. He tried to steal second and was thrown out to end the innings. Not so good. Dragons third was the top of the order again and they fell easily to Nohmi who was by now pitching smoothly.

The fourth was just quiet - no Tiger nor any Dragon ventured onto a base. One must say it was good pitching by both participants. One out in Tigers fifth and Sekimoto singled. Next was Kanoh who hit a double to left centre. Sekimoto went for home but was tagged out - he doesn't really have the speed but it is nice to see that the spirit is still there. Fujii was deliberately walked (a novel experience for him) to get at Nohmi who duly flew out to second - off his first pitch as well. Having taken a two base Nohmi felt it his duty to return the honour and with one out Oda hit a double to left. Yamato tried to bunt but failed on his three attempts and was out. Finally, Ohshima popped one up to first. Tigers sixth and with one out Uemoto hit a double to left. Toritani walked and Tigers had runners on first and second. Time for a pitching change and Mutoh took over. He got Ryota Arai to pop his first pitch up to right which did take a runner to third but then Murton flew out to centre and Tigers had wasted another chance. Dragons sixth was just quiet - no one got on base and no one scored.

Tigers seventh was pitched by Nelson and was another wasted chance though there was not much they could do. Once again Kanoh doubled with one out. Fujii's fly to right took him to third but the final batter was Nohmi. He did take a full count but flew out in foul ground. Ibata led off Dragons seventh with a single but then Nohmi made sure that was all that happened. Morino and Araki struck out swinging and Oda flew out to centre. Ibata had not moved off first. Tigers eighth saw Uemoto lead off with a single. He was bunted to second, Wada having decided that even one run would do. Toritani's first ground out took the runner to third and it was all down to Ryota Arai. He hit to short and ended the innings. Dragons eighth was conveniently quiet - no one getting on base again. This would be Nohmi's last innings. Tigers ninth started with Kawai, the pitcher, walking Murton. He was pinch run for by Shunsuke. Sekimoto bunted Shunsuke to second and then Hirano (replacement right) hit right. Once again Tigers failed to take the chance and Shunsuke was held up on third. They are very good at rejecting the chances of runs hitting to right. Fujii was next and attempted a squeeze. Wada is very fond of these but previous failures have convinced him to avoid them. This one went to Kawai who couldn't decide where he was going to throw and while he was making up his mind Hirano made home 1-0 Tigers, runners on first and second. Takahiro Arai (pinch hitter) struck out swinging but Uemoto walked to load the bases. Yamato grounded out to second to end the innings. A psychologically important score and of course the pitcher for Dragons ninth was Kyuji. He retired the Dragons clean up 1-2-3 to end the game. Tigers victory.

The first victory of the season at Nagoya Dome had proved to be based on a Dragons error but it counted. Nice work by Nohmi who took the victory and Fujikawa who earned his 22nd save. Fujii had done well and works nicely with Nohmi in particular though also with Messenger. The next game will be the surprise game but more of that tomorrow.