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Tag: Kazuya Fukuura

Interleague Game 19: Monsters of Makuhari

Who are these guys? Whoever they are, I like them – alot.

After weeks of frustration, missed opportunities, and men left on base like unwanted promotional items, the Lotte offense has turned into the Monsters of Makuhari. In the past week, they’ve put up games of 9, 23, and now 9 runs again as they beat the heck out of visiting Hanshin, 9-1.

If these are indeed monsters, then Gojira definitely is Ohmatsu. In the 5 games this week alone he has 3 HR, 10 hits, and 11 RBI. Today he was yet again the hero with a 2-4, 4 RBI performance.

Ohmatsu doubles home a pair in the 4th

The first two innings were scoreless thanks to Lotte starter Ono Shingo and Hanshin starter Fukuhara. Lotte would get on the board first in the bottom of the third. Imae led off the frame with a single, and Hayasaka laid down a bunt to advance him to second – except Fukuhara winged the throw over second baseman Sekimoto’s head and all were safe.

Hayasaka beats out Fukuhara’s wild throw to first

Fukuura laid down a sac bunt that was played properly this time. After a fly-out by Ohmatsu Iguchi singled home both Imae and Hayasaka to make it 2-0. DH Hashimoto walked to put two on, and Satozaki singled to bring in Iguchi to run the score to 3-0. All three runs were scored unearned, which always seems a bit dodgy to me as they were clearly attributable to Fukuhara – the error was his. But more importantly: Lotte had the lead.

In the bottom of the 4th Lotte would extend their lead. Benny dug hard for a double to lead off the inning, and Hayasaka singled to move him to third. With two outs, Ohmatsu smacked a double into the right field gap to score both. Iguchi walked, and Hashimoto singled in Ohmtasu to make it 6-0.

Ohmatsu beats the throw home to give Lotte a 6-0 lead

In the 5th, Saburo led off with a single, and Chase Lambin singled to move Saburo to third. Imae knocked a deep drive to left that scored Saburo on the sac fly to get the score to 7-0.

Lambin eyes his single in the 5th

In the 7th, Hanshin scored a run to cut the lead to 7-1. Recent signee and ex-Seibu slugger Brazell fought a painful battle against Ono. He fouled a pitch off his leg, knocking him to the ground in pain. After getting back up and limping a bit, he fouled the next pitch off his leg again. He laid on the ground a while clutching his leg, and in fact the stretcher was brought out in case he couldn’t walk. After a time he got back on his feet to continue his at bat.

Hanshin staff checks out an injured Brazell

He popped the next pitch off his foot but it didn’t hurt him. Ono slotted the next pitch and Brazell cranked it into the right field stand for a solo HR. I wasn’t sure he was going to make it around the bases, he was obviously in so much pain. We Lotte fans applauded him for his tenacity. Quite honestly, he’s normally not my favorite kind of player – ex-Seibu, low-OBP, free swinging slugger – but that was an at-bat made of pure heart.

Brazell shows the 1st base ump how hot it is

Unfortunately for Hanshin, Lotte got that run back and tacked on another in the bottom of the 7th. Imae led off with a single and both Hayasaka and Fukuura walked setting up a 2 RBI single from the red-hot Ohmatsu. That made it 9-1, which was how the game would finish.

Ono made it through the 8th and Kawasaki mopped the 9th without allowing a runner (and with 2 Ks) to seal the victory.

Kawasaki blows fastballs past the Hanshin lineup

It was another fantastic victory for Lotte, with barely a chance wasted in a 13-hit attack. Ono never let Hanshin into the game, scattering 8 hits but shutting down all Tiger chances (save Brazell’s HR). Lotte pitching has been solid these past few weeks and it’s nice to see the offense finally kick it into gear and give the pitching the support it needs.

Tigers fans were out in force, of course, though they were quite quiet after the game got out of hand. Hanshin fans – if any of you are reading this – why only use the noisemakers and not your hands? I’ve never understood that. You turn out in such numbers yet use this plastic nonsense instead of your hands. It’s sort of like hiring someone to cheer for you. I’ve got a lot of respect for the fanaticism of the Hanshin fans, but these noisemakers are like a wooden leg on a supermodel.

Hanshin fans using noisemakers, of course

For reference – Lotte fans, going at it naturally

For some reason, there were some Geisha in attendance (or are they Maiko?). They were involved in the first pitch ceremony, too. Plus, instead of the “Lite 70s” music usually played outside Chiba Marine on game days, the stadium staff were playing some odd Lanna Thai-style instrumentals. I’m stumped.

They love love love, love Marines

June 13, 2009
Interleague Game 17: Gone Fishing

The Red Hell from Hiroshima stormed into a very windy (even by local standards) Chiba Marine Stadium tonight with an eye towards continuing their dominance over our dear Marines. It was no domination, but it was definitely a victory as Lotte loses again to Hiroshima, 2-0.

If you like strikeouts and lost opportunities, this was the game for you. The 4 Hiroshima pitchers led by starter Colby Lewis combined for 13 strikeouts, and the dynamic duo of Watanabe Shunsuke and Kobayashi Hiroyuki sent off 10 Carp batters. Both offenses were kept out of the groove for the entire game, basically, but Hiroshima got just enough going early to get the runs needed for the margin of victory.

Watanabe slings it against the Carp

Kobayashi comes out of the pen again

All the scoring took place in the top of of the first. Watanabe got two quick outs to start the game, but gave up consecutive singles to Akamatsu and Kurihara and a walk to McClain to load ’em up. Kida Go hit a little flare to right that was almost caught by Ohmatsu – in fact, could have been caught on a dive, though a bit dangerously – to score two. The wind at this point was blowing straight in at 10 m/s; if the wind isn’t at gale force that ball is caught for sure. Nevertheless, the two runs came in and Hiroshima got the only runs they would need.

Ohmatsu warms up in right

Lotte squandered many chances to score tonight. Fukuura struck out with the bases loaded in the first, Hayasaka and Saburo struck out with two on in the second and one out, Ohmatsu grounded out with the bases juiced in the 4th, and Saburo popped out with runners on the corners and two outs in the 9th to end it. Just a single in any of those situations and the game is tied, or at least within a run.

Satozaki doesn't like many of his bats, does he?

Carp fans really represented impressively. They were very, very loud all game – seemingly even louder late in the game than the early stages. It’s good to see a passionate fan base fill the stands – though it’s much better to send them home bitter and disappointed, regretting the decision to even get off at Kaihin Makuhari Station.

Carp fans representin'

Kobayashi seems to have become Bobby’s weapon of choice out of the pen as of late. He’s been very effective so far, as he’s pitched 7.2 innings of scoreless ball in his 4 recent relief appearances. Perhaps that’s a semi-permanent move for Kobayashi, which certainly seems to suit him well.

Even though the game itself was a bit of a dud I had the opportunity to take a few new Marines fans to the game tonight. Two of my friends from Malaysia came to their very first baseball game ever and had a blast singing, waving their arms, and cheering on the Marines. Another Japanese friend also came to his very first game at a stadium and loved it! We got him signed up for Team 26 and got him all the cheering accessories necessary for the well-dressed maniacal fan. Hey, it’s a Marines loss but it’s still baseball, and always a heck of a lot of fun.

New Marines fans meet up with Hiroshima's Slyly

Victory Fireworks. Not very auspicious, apparently, though still very nice

June 10, 2009
Interleague Game 13: History Repeating

From Wikimedia Commons

Stop me if you’ve heard this before.

Lotte starter {insert name} pitched quite well this evening versus {insert Central League team} – well enough to win most nights. Unfortunately, the offense didn’t give him much support, and Lotte succumbed to {insert Central League team} again, {final score}.

For example: Lotte starter Ono pitched quite well this evening versus Chunichi – well enough to win most nights. Unfortunately, the offense didn’t give him much support, and Lotte succumbed to Chunichi again, 2-1.

Yes, I think i’ll autotext that – as long as it’s pertinent (which hopefully is until, oh, tomorrow afternoon at the latest).

Chunichi starter Yoshimi got basically the same results as his last start against Lotte, 7 IP, 9 hits, 6 Ks and only 1 ER (on May 22, he had a 7 IP, 7 hit, 8K, 1 ER in a 4-1 Chunichi victory). Lotte looked like they might break out of their offensive slumber early on as leadoff batter Hayasaka singled, #2 batter Fukuura singled as well, but Saburo, Iguchi, and Ohmatsu went down in order to end the scoring chance.

Lotte didn’t get anything else going until the 6th, when Saburo hit a one-out double. Iguchi singled him home, and Ohmatsu hit a double, but Benny and Satozaki couldn’t bring another run in.

The Dragons came right back in the bottom of the 6th on first baseman Blanco’s 2-run HR. That’s all the support Yoshimi, reliever Asao, and closer Iwase would need as the Marines attack was held to just a single baserunner in the last 3 innings.

The good news is it was a clean sweep for the Central League tonight as all games (except the rained-out Yokohama-Seibu tilt) were won by the home Central League teams, so Lotte didn’t lose any ground. The bad news is, of course, the completely anemic run production since the start of Interleague play continued. Throwing out the high and low games (6 runs in the victory over Tokyo, 0 runs in the first tie to Yomiuri,) the Lotte offense has scored 2, 1, 1, 2, 3, 3, 3, 3, 1, 1, and 1 runs in the other 11 games – an atrocious 1.63 runs/game. Over the same stretch the pitching has been quite solid but obviously, you gotta score runs to win.

So, Saturday brings the final game versus Chunichi in Nagoya. Lotte will try to salvage a season split as I believe Karakawa takes the hill. Let’s hope he can get some solid run support!

June 5, 2009
Interleague Game 12: All Quiet on the Eastern Front

The Kyojin and Marines met up for battle again – not at Ypres, Verdun, or the Somme, but at Chiba Marine – to finish that which was left unfinished in Tuesday’s 0-0 tie. It’s baseball, though, not trench warfare – so why does it feel like a battle of attrition? Surely the good guys will break through enemy lines for victory; just not today. Yes, AGAIN – after 12 innings and 4+ hours the front lines moved nary an inch, and visiting Yomiuri and Lotte play to a 1-1 tie.

Today’s generals starting pitchers were Greisinger for Austria-Hungary Yomiuri and Shimizu for the Allies Lotte. In a bit of role reversal from Tuesday’s game, Yomiuri got several scoring opportunities off of Shimizu but were unable to cross the plate, and Lotte was kept at bay.

Actually, Lotte could have had the first scoring chance of the evening. Hayasaka led off the bottom of the first with a single, but was promptly picked off by Greisinger. Naturally, the next batter (Fukuura) singled, but instead of runners on the corners and no out Lotte only had a runner on first with one out.

Yomiuri scored the first run in the series in the 6th with a homer off the bat of Kamei. The wind was in and across but Kamei got just enough on it to sneak it over the right field fence to put the Giants up 1-0.

Lotte finally got around to scoring a run of their own in the 7th, thanks to a fortuitous error and a timely hit. Leadoff batter Iguchi popped up between home and the pitcher’s mound. Catcher Tsuruoka called for the ball and let it bounce right off his glove, leaving Iguchi on first.

Must have been the lights or a tornado or something

Iguchi then made a great break and snuck under the tag for a steal of second.

Iguchi makes his break

Hashimoto sends Iguchi to third on a sacrifice, Ohmatsu walks – and Satozaki comes through in the clutch to tie the game at 1 each!

Game tying single off the bat of Satozaki

The starting pitchers are chased, and it becomes a bullpen duel for the second night in a row. Sikorski is up first for Lotte, and he mows down the first four batters he faces in 1.2 innings of work.

I don’t think Furuki got a hold of Sikorski’s pitch

Itoh, Kobayashi, and Ogino worked run-free innings each to send it to the bottom of the 12th, still tied. After a pair of outs by Yomiuri closer Kroon, Hashimoto drew a walk. He was replaced by pinch-runner Tanaka, who was immediately moved to third on a single to right at the feet of Kamei. 1st and 3rd, 2 out, Heiuchi at the plate for his first time in 2009. He works the count, gets it full, fans going wild in anticipation – strikeout looking, game over, another tie.

Apart from the error by Yomiuri it was another very, very well played defensive game. Imae made a twisting catch to get out Ramirez early in the game.

Twisting, turning, but caught

Yomiuri left fielder Kudoh made a full-tilt running catch into the left field wall; very impressive. With Ohmatsu on first, Yomiuri center fielder Matsumoto made a sprawling catch of a Imae liner to end the 5th. It was a phenomenal catch but not a very bright play in my opinion – nobody was backing him in the OF and Ohmatsu would have easily scored from first had he missed the ball.

I got a fun little chant going in my section during a Giants rally. As they sang their rally song with Ramirez at the plate I substituted “Ramirez! Ramirez!” with “Sanshin! Sanshin!” I got a few rows to join in, and while he didn’t strikeout he did line out to end the inning.

So nothing resolved, the warring parties move on to their next battles. Lotte heads to Nagoya on Friday for the second half of the Chunichi series, and then it’s a Sunday/Monday set with Yokohama. Lotte and Yomiuri will try to move the trenches again in the 20th/21st of June in Tokyo; I’ll be there watching the good guys win.

Enjoy some more pictures from tonight’s action.

Satosaki squeezes out Kamei’s pop

Benny warms up in right

Bobby V supporters in the luxury boxes

Fukuura shares a joke with the ump

June 3, 2009
Interleague Game 9: Kanto Battle part 1

Today the Swallows returned to San Juan Capistrano Chiba Marine Stadium for the first time in 2009, and the first of the 4 interleague matches. Lotte returned home in winning fashion after the 2-game sweep at the hands of Hiroshima, beating Tokyo 6-3.

I certainly love to watch a Lotte win but it’s always a bit melancholy against a team you like. I’ve been to many Swallows games at Jingu in the past and even own a nice fitted Yakult cap, plus I enjoy keeping up with Swallows news at the great Tsubamegun blog. That being said, for 4 games a year I am decidedly anti-Swallows. No offense.

It was a bit of a grim day with a 60% chance of rain in the forecast. The threat of rain kept many fans away (attendance was just over 15,000) but didn’t hurt the Lotte bats. Pitching was a bit shaky for both teams early. In the first, Swallows starter Yuki got two quick outs, walked Saburo, and gave up a big blast to right-center by Iguchi. I had just shifted seats maybe 5 minutes before to be closer to the RF foul pole; the ball landed really close to where I was sitting previously.

Armed with a 2-0, Lotte starter Naruse took the hill for the first time since his relief appearance on Tuesday. He looked a bit rusty out of the gate, allowing a pair of baserunners in both the first and third innings but keeping them from coming home.

Lotte gave him more support in the 3rd with a big 2-out rally. Saburo got it started with a double to left and Yuki smartly walked Iguchi after getting in an 0-3 hole, but Ohmatsu made him pay with a single to left to score Saburo. The recently quiet Satozaki caused more damage with a 2-run double to right.

Lotte fans break out the nets for Ohmatsu’s AB

Benny singled to move Sato to third and Burnham Jr drew a walk to load them up, but Imae hit a weak pop to end the inning. 5-0, but it could have been more.

Naruse immediately gave 2 of the runs back in the top of the 4th on a leadoff double by Guiel, a single by Hatakeyama, and a 2-run double by Miyamoto. He fought his way out of the inning, though, and kept Lotte up 5-2.

Lotte added an insurance run in the 7th off a leadoff double by Tsuyoshi. He was pulled (!) for pinch runner Hayasaka, who stole third after Fukuura’s strikeout. Saburo brought him home on a sac fly to center, making it 6-2.

Lotte supporters propel Saburo to a hit

Ogino came in to finish the game in the 9th but was uncharacteristically shaky, giving up a run for only the second game this year on three singles. He did eventually get the job done, securing a 6-3 victory for Lotte.

Lotte looks to execute a two-game sweep of their own on Sunday as Ohmine faces Swallows starter Kawashima.

Banzai! Naruse and Iguchi are today’s heroes

May 30, 2009
Interleague Game 3: Dragooned

Interleague play continued as the Chunichi Dragons roared into town for the second interleague matchup. Unfortunately the fizzling offense from Wednesday’s game with Yokohama made another appearance as Chunichi took the first game 4-1.

Much like Naruse’s start on Wednesday Lotte starter Ohmine didn’t pitch all that poorly, but there was no offensive help to get him the win. He got off to a bit of a shaky start by giving up 4 hits in the first 2 innings – in fact, 3 hits but no runs in the second (thanks to a great rundown by Nishioka). The start got a bit shakier still in the third as Ohmine served up a tasty dish to Dragons 3B Morino, which he devoured and sent into the Lotte ouendan for a 2-run HR.

Lotte starter Ohmine warms up on the sideline

It was certainly no dominating performance, but Ohmine did show a lot of guts with 4 walks and 7 hits in 7 innings of work, but he only gave up the 2 runs off the HR, so to me he did his job. The offense could only manage scattered base hits, seemingly always with 2 out. Benny did his job well, digging deep on the basepaths for 2 doubles. The only Lotte run came on a botched double play ball in the 7th. Saburo grounded into what was surely a DP but an errant throw only got Fukuura at second and Imae trotted home.

Fukuura runs around hatless but Tsuyoshi is there to help

Itoh relieved Ohmine in the 8th and immediately allowed a hit to Chunichi’s Blanco. To up the degree of difficulty Itoh subsequently threw not one, but two wild pitches to put Blanco at third, where he scored on a sac fly. Hashimoto pitched the 9th for Lotte and gave up another run, making the final 4-1.

Dragons cheerleaders rush the field

May 22, 2009
Game Report: Lotte vs Softbank, 5/14

Ugh.

It’s not my fault, I couldn’t have jinxed them. No really, I couldn’t have — I was watching the game recorded, not live. No, it can’t possibly be my fault, even though I started to write this post – with victory in mind, searching for pictures of brooms to represent ‘sweep’ – before the game ended. I swear I had nothing to do with previously bulletproof closer Ogino – he of the 0.00000 ERA this season – giving up a game-tying 2 run blast in the 9th, and giving up the game winning run on another HR.

Please don’t blame the 5-4 loss in the series finale to Softbank on me! (I’ll keep telling myself that) Also don’t blame any of it on Lotte starter Kobayshi and relivers Kawasaki and Sikorski. Kobayshi pitched through leg pain – it looked like he might get pulled in the 5th due to injury – to put himself in position for to get his first win of the season, giving up 2 ER in 6+ innings of work. Kawasaki relieved him in the 7th, gave up a one-out hit to pinch hitter Tsuji, and got out of the inning when Tsuji was doubled off first on a major baserunning error on a line drive out by Morimoto. Sikorski pitched a perfect 8th, retiring the side on just 11 pitches.

No, this is all on Ogino, who must have not been properly warmed up or was feeling a bit ill. Ogino gave up the 2-run lead and the Sayonara HR on just 8 pitches, which is very efficiently horrible. It’s hard to fault Ogino too much as he’s been so good this year, and this is just one game. But I think this game really would have meant alot to the team as it would have been the first series sweep by Lotte this year, and an opportunity to jump into 3rd (though that possibility was later dashed as Seibu beat Orix tonight).

Saburo got the Lotte scoring started in the 4th with a 2-run line drive HR to left scoring Fukuura. Fukuura got in on the act himself in the 5th with a 2-run double down the right field line. Kobayashi’s leg started to give him trouble in the bottom of the 5th, a frame where he gave up 2 runs. That was it for the scoring until Softbank’s last minute fireworks. Also ending tonight for Lotte was Iguchi’s HR streak. He had homered in 4 straight game but went 0-4 this evening.

Lotte returns home to Chiba Marine tomorrow to start the final Pa-league series before the interleague play begins. Seibu is in town, and the Marines will look to put Ogino’s collapse behind them and continue their recent winning ways.

May 14, 2009
Game Report: Lotte vs Softbank, 5/13

Tonight the 3-game set with Softbank shifted from the Yahoo Dome to just down the road in Kitakyushu. Looking to build on last night’s tense 2-1 win, Lotte put on quite a show, pummeling the Hawks on their own turf 7-0. It was a multi-pronged attack, helped in great part by the new rule change allowing an addition to the offense:

Lotte offense tees off on Softbank pitching (artist’s conception)

Well, figuratively, at least. The Marines aren’t really known as a power team – before tonight they stood 3rd in the Pa-league with 30 HRs on the season – but tonight pretty much everyone got in the act as 5 different players went yard. Iguchi (no surprise) got in the first licks with a solo shot in the 2nd. Tsuyoshi and Takehara were next in the 3rd with back-to-back blasts. Benny jacked a solo HR in the 6th, and Fukuura finished off the HR barrage in the 7th with another solo shot. Imae and Benny accounted for the 7th run in the 8th inning, as Benny doubled with two out in the 8th, and Imae brought home pinch runner Hayasaka with a double of his own.

All the power is useless without quality pitching – and tonight starter Ohmine was more than up to the challenge. He delivered the 3rd strong pitching performance by a Lotte starter in a row with a complete game, 6-K, 6-hit shutout. Softbank only had one real scoring chance – when they got two on in the fourth – and Ohmine made sure the outcome was never really in doubt. With the great performance tonight he runs his record to 2-1 and drops his ERA by almost 2 runs. Not too shabby.

Ohmine gives the latest dominating performance by a Lotte starter (from marines.co.jp)

What a nice run the team is on as of late! With the victory the Marines move into sole possession of 4th place, only 0.5 games back of third place Seibu. It’s also 5 wins out of the last 6 games, and three very – very – impressive pitching performances in a row. All trends I like to see very – very – much!

May 13, 2009
Game Report: Rakuten vs Lotte, 5/8

Chiba Marine Stadium was awash with downpours tonight as Rakuten rolled into Makuhari for the first of a 3-game weekend set with Lotte. Tonight’s starting pitchers have had as dramatically different fortunes this year as their respective teams. Lotte starter Shimizu Naoyuki comes in with an 0-2 record and a 6.26 ERA, while young Rakuten SP Nagai Satoshi enters 3-0 with a 2.26 ERA. In a game beset by weather stoppages, errors, and sloppy play, Lotte’s pitching rose to the task of stopping the first place Golden Eagles, leading the Marines to a 4-3 victory.

In a rainy start to the game Shimizu got off to a bit of a slow start, giving up a triple to Rakuten CF Nakamura, who was later brought home by veteran Yamasaki’s double. In the Marines half of the first, Chase Lambin led off with a high pop to second that was misplayed by 2B Uchimura. Lambin ran like hell on the play and slid forcefully into second for a 2B error. He was brought home two batters later on Tsuyoshi’s line drive HR into the home gaiya, giving the 2-1 lead to Lotte.

Nishioka celebrates his 1st inning HR (from marines.co.jp)

The rain continued to fall, and Rakuten retook the lead in the third on Kusano’s 2-run HR to right. Imae almost tied it in the bottom of the third with an HR of his own – it didn’t quite make it out, but Rick Short was pushed to the wall and was unable to come down with it, leaving Imae standing at third. Lambin walked next then the skies opened up, necessitating a lengthy delay.

Imae legs out a triple in the rain (from marines.co.jp)

After play resumed, Fukuura walked, loading the bases for Iguchi. He drilled a ball to the warning track in center that would have been a HR anywhere else, but was good enough to score Imae. Ohmatsu fanned for the second time on a wicked inside pitch from Nagai to end Lotte’s scoring chance, but the game was now tied.

Shimizu really knuckled down after the delay and the passing of the rain. He gave up 3 more hits over the next 4 innings but no runs.

Shimizu ends another scoreless inning (from marines.co.jp)

In the 5th, Lotte took the lead for good on a double by Iguchi. Shimizu pitched through the 7th; the 8th and 9th were pitched in perfect form by Sikorski and Ogino, respectively. Even Rakuten fans had to be impressed by the power of Sikorski and the wizardry of Ogino – Sikorski struck out 2 in his frame and Ogino struck out the side to close it out.

Ogino and Satozaki celebrate the 4-3 victory over Rakuten (from marines.co.jp)

I’ve mentioned it repeatedly but it bears mentioning again how dominating Ogino has been this year. Tonight was his 11th appearance, and he has yet to yield an earned run in any of the games he’s pitched in. Due to the general sorry state of the season so far he’s only got 3 saves, but if his form holds the saves will come as the season turns around. Sikorski, for his part, has been no slouch either – he’s currently sporting a 1.26 ERA, which is a run below his previous career best. Now if only Kobayashi (6.91 ERA), Komiyama (6.57 ERA, but he is 43), Ohmine (6.75), and Ono (6.04) can get their seasons on track…

A very nice win tonight for the Marines!

May 8, 2009
Game Report: Fighters vs Lotte, 5/4

It’s the top of the third of Monday’s holiday day game between the visiting Fighters and the Marines. I’m going to try a little live blogging of this one to give my impressions of the game as it unfolds.

Lotte is trying for its first win against the Fighters this year – the Fighters took the first two games of the season in the second series of the year back in the second week of April. Back on the hill for revenge is Ohmine for the Marines, who gave up 7 runs in a no-decision in the first series.

Ohmine has gotten off to a really bad start in this one – he gave up 3 runs on 3 walks and two hits in the first. In the second he gave up a fourth run to put Lotte in a 4-0 hole.

15:10 – In the bottom of the second, Lotte gets closer to even with a walk by Iguchi-senshu, a second walk by Ohmatsu, and a 3-run line drive HR by Imae into the left field bleachers! It’s only Imae‘s second HR on the season, and couldn’t come at a better time.

Imae hits his second HR of the season (from marines.co.jp)

15:20 – Ohmine-senshu had a much better top of the third, retiring the side in 3-up, 3-down fashion.

15:45 – After a scoreless frame for Lotte in the bottom of the third it’s all gone pear shaped for Ohmine in the 4th. He got repeatedly shelled but the Fighters bats – 2 leadoff walks led to a 2-run double by Morimoto, an RBI single by Sledge, and Ohmine getting pulled for Komiyama. He proceeded to give up a RBI double to Takahashi and make it 8-3. Obviously, not good.

16:00 – Lotte gets back on the board in the bottom of the 5th. Chase Lambin led off with a double to right to lead off. He was sacrificed to third on Hayakawa‘s grounder and brought home on Burnham Jr‘s single to center – “Shin gaikokujin combo!” yelled the announcers. Tsuyoshi walked next, and Iguchi lined to center to load the bases. Hashimoto brought home Burnham Jr on what looked to be a sure double play ball, but he beat out the play at first through pure hustle. The play couldn’t have been closer – and unfortunately Hashimoto goes out injured and is replaced by Satozaki. Saburo had the chance to bring home more but grounded to short to end the inning. It’s now 8-5 going into the 6th.

16:20 – Unfortunately, the hits keep coming for Nippon Ham, too. Inaba just clubbed aHR down the right field stadium entrance to make it 9-5. Komiyama is chased, and in comes the resurgent Kawasaki. It’s almost time for me to stop making fun of Kawasaki – after his scoreless performance last night his ERA is now south of 10!

16:40 – No more scoring to this point. Kawasaki has now gone 1.2 innings without a run (with a hit and a walk). Nice performance so far – maybe his season is turning around? Now if only the bats would come around today to get us back in it! Lambin did have a triple in the bottom of the 6th, but nothing came of it, unfortunately.

16:50 – 2 hits in Lotte’s Lucky 7, but no runs. Deep fly balls from Saburo and Iguchi, but the wind is strongly blowing in, so not much chance to go out. Need some timely hits!

Balloon launch during Lotte's Lucky 7 (from marines.co.jp)

17:05 – Another run by Nippon Ham, coming on a bases loaded sac fly. Pretty high comedy at least – Takagi came in to relieve Kawasaki, walked Koyano, and then plunked Sledge on the right arm. Sledge took a few steps toward Takagi as the benches emptied. I’m not sure what Sledge was trying to accomplish – he was cramping the plate and the 23 year vet backed him off. Sledge is a beefy guy guy Takagi looks like he could definitely take him in a fight. Alas, we didn’t find out for sure.

17:28 – 2 runs in,thanks to a timely double by Burnham Jr, but Iguchi leaves 2 men on with a grounder to third to end the inning. It goes without saying (though I will anyway) that that’s a chance we’re likely going to regret letting pass. 10-7, going into the 9th – and Ogino comes in to pitch! Fukuura takes over for Burnham Jr at 1st.

17:45 – Two hits off Fighters closer Takeda, but again no runs. That’s a 10-7 Fighters victory. Lotte had numerous opportunities to pull ahead in this one but couldn’t get it done, despite outhitting Nippon Ham in this game. We’re now 10-16 on the season, still 6 behind Rakuten. The team really needs to put together a run and get back in this!

May 4, 2009