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3/4/09 — Hokkaido (away)

March 4, 2009 by Leave a Comment

March 4th, 2009

Tokyo Yakult Swallows  4  Yakult Cap

Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters  5

Streak: Lost 1   Last 3: WWL

(Sapporo Dome)

The highlight of this game, from our perspective anyway, was Ishikawa. He started, threw only 41 pitches and retired all 12 batters he faced. Guiel provided the only offense of the game to that point with a solo home run in the top of the fourth. Tokyo went up 2-0 when

Miyamoto scored on a Noguchi triple.

Ishikawa was replaced by Yoshikawa at the beginning of the 5th, and things got ugly very quickly. Yoshikawa gave up three successive hits to start the inning, the third of which was a blast into the bleachers in left. Tokyo 2-3 Hokkaido.

Maruyama pitched the sixth for Tokyo and didn’t allow anyone to score in his second appearance of the pre-season. However, the home team added another run in the bottom of the seventh off of Tokyo’s Oshimoto which put them up by two runs.

Tokyo tied it up in the top of the 9th with a nice little two-out rally which was partly courtesy of an error by Hokkaido’s pitcher. With two men on, Yuuichi doubled to right which scored both Hatakeyama and Tanaka.

But with Takai on the mound for his first appearance of the year, it wasn’t meant to be. With two men on and two outs, Hokkaido’s center/left fielder, Morimoto, came through with a game winning double after killing rallies with weak hits in both the 5th and 7th innings.

Final score: Tokyo 4 – 5 Hokkaido

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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

  • Rob

    Okay, I’m not sure if my bewilderment is appropriate or not, but…

    Bottom of the ninth in a 4-4 tie that has to end after nine innings. TYS can’t win, and if the Fighters don’t score it’s a tie.

    One out, runner on first. Runner feints stealing a few times. The count goes to 2-2. And Takada – orders a pitchout?

    I might be missing something, but I think that’s such a low percentage play it’s not worth even trying.

    I know it would be bad if the runner stole second, but if the runner goes and you don’t get him, he’s on second and the count is full. And if the runner doesn’t go, he’s still on first, but the count is still full.

    It’s only an exhibition game, but this seems… wonky.

  • http://www.transpacificradio.com/ Christopher Pellegrini

    Rob,
    Let me assure you that your bewilderment is completely appropriate. And shared.
    Christopher Pellegrini