BayStars Come Back From 8 Run Deficit
Yokohama had runners on in every inning, but couldn't get a single one home. They stranded 13 in all. Ouch.
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At the end of 2 innings, Yokohama's Regent, Miura, had given up 7 runs, all earned, on 7 hits and 1 walk. Miura stayed in there one more inning, settling down and giving up just one more walk, but was pinch hit for in the bottom of the third when Yokohama managed to answer with 2 runs.
In the top of the 4th, with Kawahara on the mound, Hiroshima scored three more on 5 hits (and a walk) to put the game out of reach, 10-2. Or, at least it seemed out of reach.
A walk, error, and 3-run home run by Tanishige (his 13th of the year to tie Ogawa for the team lead) cut Hiroshima's lead in half to 10-5. Still a formidable lead to overcome.
Nakanowatari, Yone, Sugiyama, and Saitoh all followed on the mound and held the Carp out of the Bay. The Carp only managed 3 hits off of this relief quartet, which helped Yokohama's periodicly explosive offence get back into the game.
Hiroshima's starter, Hasegawa, made it midway through to the 6th inning. With a run in and two on, Kikuchihara climbed the mound. He promptly gave up a 2 run double to Saeki who is batting .361 with runners in scoring position. The 2 runs were charged to Hasegawa who ended the game having given up 8 runs, 6 earned as a pair of errors and a wild pitch cost him two in the 3rd and 4th. Kikuchihara got Suzuki-kun on strikes, and the side was retired with Hiroshima's lead cut to 10-8.
A lead off double by Ishii in the 8th, then an RBI base hit by Suzuki brought the 'Stars to within 1 with a single inning remaining.
Hiroshima's closer, Sasaoka, came in to throw the 9th inning. The last time the 'Stars faced him, Tanishige hit a man-rui (grand slam) home run in the top of the 10th to give Yokohama the win. This evening, after Zuber grounded out to Sasaoka to lead off the bottom half of the 9th, pinch hitter Nakane beat out an infield single to short, bringing up Tanishige. And like last time, Tanishige comes through in dramatic style, pulling Sasaoka into the left field stands for a gyaku-ten sayonara home run! The BayStars complete an 8 run deficit come back victory!
5 of Tanishige's club leading 14 home runs have been against Sasaoka. What surprises me most about Tanishige hitting so many is that he's generally the #8 batter, with the pitcher batting behind him. Why would an opposing pitcher put a ball into his zone?
Now, for the fun stuff. The top 19 comebacks in Pro Yakyu history.
This marked Yokohama's franchise (dating back to the Taiyo Whales) 3rd time to come back from 8 runs, the second franchise behind the Dragons to come back from at least 8 three times. Of interest, Mori-kantoku was on the other side of the record on October 5, 1989 against Daiei. I'm sure things look better from this side.