June 8th, 2008
Chiba Lotte Marines 4
Tokyo Yakult Swallows 3
Streak: Lost 2
(Home game: Jingu Stadium)
The Tokyo pitching staff struck out 13 over 10 innings, but that still wasn’t enough to take care of the visiting Chiba Lotte Marines.
Tokyo starter Matsui struck out seven, walked one, and didn’t give up a run (only two hits), but was pulled after 4 2/3 innings when Chiba’s best hitter, Nemoto, came to the plate in the top of the 5th. Satou was called in and Nemoto struck out.
Chiba’s bats got going late in the game as they overcame a one run deficit (first inning rbi by Tanaka; Miyamoto scored) and some gifted runs (Chiba middle reliever Kubo walked in a run, and then his replacement, Kawasaki, let another one come around on a wild pitch) to beat Tokyo at Jingu Stadium on a huge solo blast to center by Chiba second baseman, Ortiz, in the top of the 10th inning.
Former Tokyo Yakult reliever, Brian Sikorski, got the win for Chiba. Imu took the loss for Tokyo.
Tokyo shortstop Shinya Miyamoto went three for four on the night and got on base four times in the loss. Matsui also looked good on the mound in his first start of the season.
