8/3/11 – Chunichi (Away)

August 3rd, 2011

Tokyo Yakult Swallows 1

Chunichi Dragons 1

Streak: Tied 1 Last 5: WDDWD

(Nagoya Dome)

Twelve. That’s right, twelve ties in 79 games for Tokyo. Six at home, six away. That’s a record-breaking pace, but not quite a record, in case you’re wondering. The club record would be 16 ties, which the Birds did twice: 1981 and before that, 1978, when they won their first Japan Series and were joined at 16 ties by Yomiuri and passed by Hiroshima, who had 18. The only other year in which Tokyo amassed twelve ties or more was 1979, when they finished with 13.

The all-time NPB record is 19 ties by the 1982 Chunichi Dragons. The 1970s and very early ’80s were a high-tie era. The past two decades have decidedly not been, on the whole.

The Pacific League record, by the way, is 16, by the 1974 Nankai Hawks.

Anyhow. Tonight.

Us:

Ogawa comes out to give Lim a hand.

Aoki (CF)
Tanaka (2B)
Kawabata (SS)
Hatakeyama (LF)
Whitesell (1B)
Miyamoto (3B)
Balentien (RF)
Aikawa (C)
Shichijo (P)

Them:

Araki (SS)
Fujii (CF)
Guzman (RF)
Morino (3B)
Wada (LF)
Nakata (1B)
Donoue (2B)
Koyama (C)
Chen (P)

The scoring all happened early.

For the Dragons, Araki singled and was driven in by a Guzman single that bounced into centerfield in the bottom of the first. 1-0 Chunichi.

In the top of the second, Whitesell singled, was moved to second by an Aikawa single (with two outs). Shichijo then hit a towering RBI double, putting men on second and third with the game tied. Aoki then struck out. 1-1, Final.

Shichijo threw 115 pitches over seven innings, giving up five hits. Barnette threw three Ks in the eighth, remaining dangerous to gas stations and people wearing rayon. Lim tossed another nail-biter of a ninth, coming close to giving it away, but closing on a K. Matsuoka pitched the tenth, giving up one walk, but no hits.

Chen pitched eight innings, giving up six hits, for Chunichi.

Same again tomorrow, folks.

http://tokyoswallows.com/ David Watkins

With Yomiuri doing us a favour by coming from behind to beat Hanshin, this draw proved good enough to move 8 games clear at the top.
Rob

Mr. Pellegrini touched on the Lim issue yesterday, but in a similar vein – please – ONLY USE YOUR CLOSER IN A SAVE SITUATION. Will CC this to the Tigers as well….

http://tokyoswallows.com/ Garrett DeOrio

I’m in favor of the Tigers burning out any and all of their pitchers.

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http://twitter.com/simoncurrie simon

Retaining a tied 9th inning (or even 1 run behind) is more important than a 3 run 9th inning lead which most relievers should be able to get out of with the team win. Optimum use of relievers don’t always match their mental makeup though.

The frequency of ties definitely follows rule changes for ties over the decades eh, but the Swallows ties seem excessive, though it’s good not to lose.

http://tokyoswallows.com/ Garrett DeOrio

Rule changes are obvious, esp. in the CL, which has numerous years, esp. in the ’90s, of no ties at all and swings back and forth between single-digit tie figures top to bottom and tie-fests. This season is unusual in that Tokyo has so many more ties than other teams in the league and are on pace to edge out the all-time NPB record.