September 4th, 2008
Chunichi Dragons 3
Tokyo Yakult Swallows 5
Streak: Won 5 Last 5:WWWWW
(Jingu Stadium)
Hats off to Sean Douglass who threw eight innings of impressive, rain-drenched baseball in his third start since joining the team! He fully deserved his first win of the season, giving up only one hit and one walk over 107 pitches. He struck out four.
While not bringing home six runs in the fifth inning for the first time in four games, the Tokyo offense provided another big cushion for its pitching staff by going up 5-0 by the end of the fifth frame.
Tokyo catcher, Fukukawa, had another big night at the plate going two for three with his fifth home run (solo) of the season, and he brought one more run around on a sac fly in the fifth.
Fukuchi (3-5, 1 RBI), Aoki (2-4, 1 RBI) and Iihara (2-3, 1 RBI) were also solid from the plate.
Things got a little tense in the top of the 9th when Tokyo reliever, Kida, gave up a pair of home runs (3 RBIs), and the game momentarily looked like a contest. But then Lim came into the game and got the last out for save number 30 on the season.
After completing the sweep versus Chunichi, Tokyo is just a half game behind the Dragons and that third playoff spot.
Tokyo hosts cross-town rivals, Yomiuri, tomorrow, Saturday and Sunday at Jingu Stadium for a highly anticipated showdown. Both teams have found their stride of late, and it should be interesting to see if the Tokyo offense can keep clearing the bases as well as it has this past week.
About Christopher Pellegrini
