September 19th, 2009
Yomiuri Giants 6
Tokyo Yakult Swallows 3
Streak: Lost 2 Last 5: LWWLL
(Jingu Stadium)
This one was a lot closer than the night before, but ultimately, the result was the same.
The Swallows lined up like this:
- Fukuchi (LF)
- Tanaka (2B)
- Aoki (CF)
- D’Antona (1B)
- Miyamoto (SS)
- Guiel (RF)
- Hatakeyama (3B)
- Aikawa (C)
- Tateyama (P)
The game as a contest was essentially over in the top of the 1st inning, as a walk and two two-out singles were followed up by a piggy-boy Abe grand slam homer for 4-0 Yomiuri.
The Swallows struck back against Giants starter Kubo in the 3rd, a Jamie D’Antona two-run homer (no. 20 for the year) making it 4-2. A Miyamoto double and a Guiel walk put men on first and second but Hatakeyama flew out to end the inning.
Tokyo added another in the 5th, a Guiel single bringing home Aoki who had earlier doubled for 4-3.
But that was as close as Tokyo would get, with Yomiuri adding another run in each of the 6th and 7th innings as it ended up 6-3 Final.
Tateyama continued his recent slide as he ended up taking the loss to put his record at 14-6/3.69. He gave up five runs in his 5 and 2/3 innings of work off nine hits, with two Ks, two walks and one hit man.
Lee (3.21) worked 1 and 2/3 innings, giving up one run in the 7th inning via a Ramirez solo shot.
Matsui (4.26) worked scoreless 8th and 9th innings giving up just one hit.
With Yomiuri barely outhitting Tokyo 11-10, the chances were there for the Swallows but they couldn’t take them, as has become the norm since the All Star break.
Fukuchi (.279) had a three hit evening, with Aoki (.290) and Guiel (.259) having two apiece.
The two teams return tomorrow evening for the final game in the series. The only bright spot for Tokyo is yet another loss for Hanshin which keeps the gap to 3rd at 0.5 games.
About David Watkins
