June 9th, 2008
Chiba Lotte Marines 5
Tokyo Yakult Swallows 3
Streak: Lost 3
(Home game: Jingu Stadium)
Chiba starter, Ono, got the win on only five innings of work and 68 pitches. Kamada took the loss, his second in 14 relief appearances, for the home team.
Nishioka hit a leadoff home run in the top of the first off Tokyo starter Muranaka, but the Swallows rallied in the bottom of the second to put two runs on the board and take the lead (Kawamoto two-run double to left).
Tokyo’s last run came on a solo home run care of right fielder Fukuchi in the 5th. Chiba scored one run in both the sixth and seventh inning to pull ahead for good.
Fukuchi, Aoki and Kawamoto had two hits each, and Kawamoto maintained his form in notching two rbi’s on a very, very wet evening at Jingu stadium.
[...] Game two versus Chiba Lotte (June 9th, 2008): This was a long game, but there was no sacrifice bunting. With Takeuchi at the plate (not one of Tokyo’s best hitters) and a man on first, normally a sacrifice bunt situation for Takada, Takeuchi was allowed to swing, and he came through. Takeuchi’s single was followed by a Kawamoto double that drove in two rbi’s. Chiba won 5-3. [...]