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10/18/08 – Pacific League Climax Series – 2nd Stage – Hokkaido vs. Saitama (Game 3)

October 18, 2008 By Leave a Comment

October 18th, 2008

Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters 5

Saitama Seibu Lions 0

(Seibu Dome)

Yuu Darvish was Yuu Darvish today, and that was that. The mighty Seibu offense was limited to just three hits as Darvish pitched a complete-game shutout.

After scoring a run in the third off of Morimoto’s first and only hit of the postseason thus far, the Fighters put four runs on the board in the fourth. The inning was capped by a two-run homer from Kaneko off of Seibu starter, Takayuki Kishi (11.25). Kishi lasted four innings (89 pitches), gave up five earned runs off of seven hits, struck out three and walked two.

Darvish’s numbers, on the other hand, were a good deal better. Aside from the three scattered runs, three  batters coaxed Darvish into a free trip to first base (only Seibu first baseman, Ishii, managed to reach base twice), but no Seibu runner got past second.

Darvish’s performance tonight lowered his postseason WHIP to 0.94 which is nothing short of dominating. He also pitched a complete game versus Orix in the first stage of the climax series. His postseason ERA is still 0.00 after two starts.

Seibu still leads the series 2-1 given the freebie-game awarded for being Pacific League champions, and game four of the series is tomorrow at Seibu Dome. The first pitch is scheduled for 1 PM.

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About Christopher Pellegrini

Christopher is a budding sabermetrician and long-time supporter of Tokyo's more lovable team, the Swallows. He has publicly volunteered, several times, that he plans to buy the team at some point in the future. When he finally runs the joint, it is likely that he will fine any player who swings at the first pitch or sac bunts (unless it's a pitcher, of course). Follow him on Twitter: @chrispellegrini

  • http://jhockey.wordpress.com/ simoncurrie

    I was at the game, and it just might have been the most dominant pitching performance I have ever witnessed in person. Err, too bad my PL team, the Lions, lost. But it was a playoff performance worthy to be retold years from now. The PL playoffs have been blessed with great pitching performances, often in very tight games, like Matsuzaka v Saito a few years back. Anyways, hopefully this game didn’t break Seibu’s back, and the team can win the next two games to win the series before having face Darvish in the 6th and deciding game if it comes down to that.