March 18th, 2009
Saitama Seibu Lions 1
Tokyo Yakult Swallows 9
Streak: Won 2 Last 5: WLDWW
(Jingu Stadium)
The birds got the offense going early in one of the day’s four forgotten games (if you want to know what everyone in Japan was actually paying attention to, please scroll down to the next game report).
Tokyo teed off on former starter Kazuhisa Ishii who was a bit rusty today. Ishii threw 100 pitches in five innings of work, gave up seven earned (and one unearned) runs, allowed 11 hits, struct out five, walked one and plunked Guiel.
Earning the win this afternoon was Ishikawa who pitched five innings of six hit, one run ball. He also had one K, one walk, and matched Ishii’s beanball tally for the afternoon.
Yamamoto pitched scoreless sixth and seventh innings while Igarashi and Matsuoka took care of the eighth and ninth, respectively. No runs scored after Takada went to the bullpen.
Of note in this contest was the fact that D’Antona made an appearance. He DH’d and went two for four with a single to left and a double to right. Also with multi-hit games were Keizo Kawashima and Iihara.
Miyamoto was perfect on the day going 3-3 and notching three rbi’s.
Takeuchi had a solo home run in the sixth.
Miyade hit a fly ball to right in all three of his plate appearances. Poor guy.
Guiel and Fukuchi also reached base two times each.
Tokyo and Saitama square off again tomorrow afternoon at Jingu. First pitch is at 1pm.
About Christopher Pellegrini
