April 4th, 2010
Yokohama Baystars 2
Tokyo Yakult Swallows 1
Streak: Lost 1 Last 5: WLWWL
(Meiji Jingu Stadium)
After last night’s roller-coaster of a game, Tokyo was looking for a little stability from its starter, Muranaka. Like Yoshinori before him, Muranaka had a very solid opening game of the season, and this afternoon was his chance to demonstrate how far he’s come since last season.
And he definitely upstaged Yoshinori in that regard.
Today’s starting lineup:
1. Fukuchi LF
2. Tanaka 2B
3. Aoki CF
4. D’Antona 1B
5. Guiel RF
6. Miyamoto 3B
7. Fujimoto SS
8. Kawamoto C
9. Muranaka P
Kawamoto was no doubt getting the start in reward for his heroics yesterday evening (walk-off two run homer.)
Muranaka started well. He maintained reasonably good control over his curve and forkball in keeping the BayStars hitless through five innings.
The fifth frame was actually a good test of his mettle as he found himself with two runners with two outs. Muranaka pitched around Murata but then ran into a very patient Sledge who drew a walk as well. In this situation last season, it was nearly guaranteed that a hit would ensue, and with Castillo going 5-5 yesterday one could be forgiven for a resurrection of pessimism.
But Muranaka got Castillo to ground out harmlessly to Tanaka at second base to end the threat and the inning.
And to be fair to Yokohama, rookie righty Kaga was pitching quite well in his first ever pro start. He also benefited from some excellent defense in the outfield. Hayakawa robbed Aoki of an extra-base hit, and possibly an RBI, in the first, and Yoshimura did very well to track down D’Antona’s opposite field hit to rob him of an RBI and end the inning.
The birds got on the board first in the second via a leadoff Guiel home run to right. 1-0 Tokyo.
Yokohama tied the game in the top of the sixth when Muranaka gave up his first hit of the game. With two out, Uchikawa worked a walk and then scored on a Murata double into the gap in left-center. Yokohama then went ahead on a Sledge single that scored Murata easily from second. 2-1 Yokohama.
In the bottom of the sixth, the birds loaded the bases for the second time in as many innings. And just like the previous instance, the Swallows went back out onto the field without bringing anyone home on a swinging K (Tanaka this time). This time, however, there was a Tak bunt in there (remember that “Tak bunt”, short for Takada bunt, refers to an unnecessary sacrifice bunt), and that free out for the opposition proved to be costly.
Just to illustrate how Takadaish the bunt was, let me give you the rundown. Miyamoto led off the Swallows’ sixth with a walk. Fujimoto then Tak-bunted him over. Despite Miyamoto dancing around on second base with one out, Kuwahara fanned Takeuchi for out number two. Hatakeyama, pinch-hitting for Muranaka, was immediately beaned thus negating the alleged value of the bunt. Fukuchi reached on an infield single to juice the bases, and Tanaka struck out swinging.
But to add a bit of sunshine to this report, I’m happy to type that Takagi made very quick work (eight pitches) of the Baystars in his first appearance of the season.
Tokyo would again threaten in the bottom of that inning as Aoki led off with a double down the line in right, and D’Antona drew his second walk of the game. Guiel then worked the count full against Ushida, and then drew his second walk of the afternoon to load the bases for the third inning in a row!
This time, however, there were no outs, and it was Miyamoto at the plate to take the challenge. He eventually popped out to the catcher on the 11th pitch he saw for out number one. Fujimoto then struck out swinging for out number two. Aikawa did the same to leave all of the runners stranded once again.
That’s nine stranded runners in only three innings. Hurts, yeah?
Takagi pitched the eighth and got out of it on 11 pitches this time, but the Swalllows didn’t get anyone on base this time around as the birds grounded out in order.
But then guess what happened — they loaded the bases again in the bottom of the ninth still reeling from a persistent one run deficit.
Again nobody had an answer. Aoki got on base once again, but that was as far as things got. Aikawa recorded the final out with a pop fly to right.
Aoki recorded three hits today, including two doubles. His batting average climbed to .514. Tanaka was the only other Tokyo player to record a multi-hit game.
2-1 Final.
Muranaka (2.57 ERA) took the loss in his second outing despite only giving up two hits and two earned runs.
Random notes:
- Muranaka helped his own cause with a base hit in the bottom of the fifth. He was forced out at second a batter later.
- Tokyo had the bases loaded with two out in the bottom of the fifth. Guiel struck out swinging.
- Like Iihara yesterday, Fukuchi boneheadedly and unnecessarily slid head-first into first base (the infielder couldn’t make the throw in either case.)
About Christopher Pellegrini
