April 17th Standridge v Sugiuchi - Revenge second stage

Once again a catcher out of his depth and a pitcher who didn't look entirely convincing. Fujii was replaced again this game and one wonders why Wada continues with someone so clearly inadequate for the task in hand. It wasn't that he was inadequate with Standridge - it was all pitchers on the night. Tigers also continued to demonstrate an inability to hit and even though Sugiuchi was over-pitched it was always going to be a crushing victory for the Giants. Score

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

Starting Lineups

Tigers
1. Nishioka (Second)
2. Yamato (Centre)
3. Toritani (Short)
4. Murton (Left)
5. Takahiro Arai (First)
6. Fukudome (Right)
7. Conrad (Third)
8. Fujii (Catcher)
9. Standridge (Pitcher)

Giants
1. Chono (Right)
2. Matsumoto (Centre)
3. Sakamoto (Short)
4. Abe (Catcher)
5. Lopez (First)
6. Bowker (Left)
7. Murata (Third)
8. Wakiya (Second)
9. Sugiuchi (Pitcher)

Wada shuffled his lineup slightly switching Arai and Fukudome which didn't have much effect. Hara's change of bringing in Matsumoto would have a big impact on the game. Sugiuchi started unconvincingly having to fight Yamato and Toritani. In fact he got rather annoyed that Toritani was not getting out and petulantly threw a beaner which Toritani avoided. It resulted in a walk and Murton singled to set up runners on first and third. This cured the spell of petulance and Sugiuchi settled down to pitch well after that getting Arai to fly out to end the Tigers first. Chono started the Giants off by grounding out and then Matsumoto singled to Toritani. The Tigers short took the ball but had to spin to make the throw and this gave Matsumoto just enough time to beat the throw and make first safely. Sakamoto was out too quickly but the steal was obviously on Matsumoto's mind and with Abe at the plate he set off. The throw from Fujii was weak and the steal was a formality. Abe walked but Lopez popped up high to Toritani who went back to take the catch and end that innings. Tigers second saw the batters fall in order and in fairly conventional ways. Trouble started for Tigers in the Giants second. Standridge and Fujii don't really work well together and in the previous outing it was more the Giants inability to convert that kept the score at zero. Here there would be no such problem. With one out Murata got a high straight. He didn't really get hold of it but got enough power to curve the ball almost to the dome roof and over the left gaia wall for a solo home run 1-0 Giants. Wakiya grounded out but by now communication was so bad between pitcher and catcher that Sugiuchi was able to single. Chono managed to fly out though and the innings was over. However, you felt that this would not be the first of the Giants runs. Tigers third started with Standridge grounding out but then Nishioka redressed the balance with a very effective double. Yamato struck out swinging and then Toritani hit deep. Unfortunately it didn't have the legs and fell into Bowker's glove to end the innings. Matsumoto ever active led off Giants third hitting to first where Arai fielded. As he took the ball he lost his footing and went over. Standridge had dashed over and Arai was able to complete the throw and Standridge tag the sack for the out. Only it wasn't - the replay showed clearly that Matsumoto had beaten Standridge to the sack and that the umpire had been safe. A nice escape for Tigers. Sakamoto struck out but Abe positively blasted his third pitch - a very wayward straight above the zone - into the right stand for another solo home run 2-0 Giants. Lopez hit to Toritani who pulled off a nice throw to end the innings.

Murton led off Tigers fourth hitting the ball off Sugiuchi's leg. He was able to make first safely. Arai and Fukudome stole both flew out but then with Conrad at the plate Murton stole second beating Abe's throw. Conrad struck out looking and this piece of enterprise went unrewarded. Giants fourth started with Bowker striking out which brought up Murata. The question was would he do it again. The answer was yes. It was another high pitch and this one was whacked into the right stand 3-0 Giants. Tigers were now reeling. Wakiya and Sugiuchi were both out quickly but the damage was done. Fujii lined out to start Tigers fifth and then Standridge struck out looking. Nishioka grounded out and the innings was quickly over. With one out in the bottom up came Matsumoto and he hit between Murton and Yamato for a double. Sakamoto hit to centre to set up runners on first and second. Abe was next and hit a grounder to second. Sakamoto had already started was level with Nishioka by the time the ball reached the Tigers second. There was no way Nishioka could make a double and so he threw to first for the out. Matsumoto of course was home safely 4-0 Giants, runner on second. Lopez finished the innings by flying out. The fifth would be the end of Standridge who hadn't pitched that well but had been saddled with Fujii. Unfortunately, the change of pitcher without a change of catcher would not stem the run flow. Tigers sixth saw Sugiuchi in control. Tigers batters tried to hit their way back into the game but couldn't quite manage it. Fujihara took over for Giants sixth and also had problems. Bowker grounded out but then Murata hit one off Fujihara's leg. The ball rolled away and cannoned off Toritani's glove as the short dived to stop it finishing up in left field. Next was Wakiya who hit back at Fujihara. He fielded and turned to throw to second to initiate the double play. The throw was terrible which was surprising as Fujihara had all the time in the world and missed both Nishioka and Toritani - runners on first and second. Fujihara was by now very flustered and walked Sugiuchi to load the bases. Chono hit to short and Toritani threw to first to set up the double play. Nishioka throws rather slowly and this time was no exception. Chono was able to beat the throw to first. Murata was home 5-0 Giants and Chono was safe on first with Wakiya on third. There then followed a classic mess up. Tigers were alive to the steal from first to second and when Chono set off Fujii fired the ball to Nishioka at second. However, what Nishioka spotted was that Wakiya had also set off and immediately threw back to Fujii. Unfortunately the throw was poor and to the right and Wakiya made home easily 6-0 Giants. To add insult to injury Chono successfully stole second. It was poor execution by Nishioka but poor thinking by Fujii. He should have been aware that the runner on third might go for home but his inadequate throw means that he can't delay to lock the runner on third. Finally, Matsumoto grounded out to end the innings.

Tigers seventh saw Arai and Fukudome fail again but Conrad drew a walk. Wada hadn't taken his cue from the previous mess and Fujii was still batting and catching. This time he could only ground out. Saiuchi took over for Giants seventh and was immediately in trouble with his catcher. Sakamoto swung over hastily and flew out but Saiuchi who looked nervous dead balled Abe on his back - runner on first. He was pinch run for by Suzuki. Next was Lopez who flew out to centre which brought up Bowker. He had been quiet this series but once again got a pitch that was too high in the zone. He hit this smoothly into the right stand for a two run home run 8-0 Giants. The game was turning into a massacre. Murata grounded out but Giants were very much in control. Sugiuchi returned for Tigers eighth and you felt that this had to be an innings too far. Sekimoto (replacement third) grounded out to short but Nishioka singled nicely into the corner though not far enough for a double. Yamato hit over the infield into centre to set up runners on first and second. Toritani flew out to left trying to go deep but then Murton cracked his first pitch off a tiring Sugiuchi to right for a timely single 8-1 Giants, runners on first and third. Arai hit left but once again couldn't get the distance and flew out to Bowker to end the innings. Komiyama took over as catcher for Giants eighth and here we immediately saw an improvement. Saiuchi was still shaky but Komiyama was directing pitches to where they would get outs. Wakiya grounded out to a very nice throw from Toritani. Ohta (replacement right) did the same and then Chono completed the trio for Toritani. It was an object demonstration of how to call to a pitcher's abilities. Tigers ninth was pitched by Takagi, Sugiuchi having lost the chance of a complete game shutout. Fukudome didn't look interested and struck out looking. Arai struck out swinging but then Komiyama hit to short. The throw from Sakamoto was low and missed by Lopez at first though it wasn't fast enough and Komiyama would have made first safely anyway. Sekimoto bounced one over Takagi to set up runners on first and second. Ryota (pinch hitter) was next and struck out swinging to end the game. Giants victory.

Tigers had bled runs and the battery once again had not functioned at the level needed for this game. Fujii had been mediocre in every respect and shown poor tactical understanding particularly in the sixth. Tigers batting is not firing at all whilst their pitchers gave the Giants batters too many opportunities to hit in their favourite spots. We should see a different battery today with the Hidaka/Enokida combination hoping to salvage a game from the series and prevent a sweep though this is going to be a difficult task now.