August 24th, 2011
Chunichi Dragons 6
Tokyo Yakult Swallows 6
Streak: Tied 1 Last 5: LLWWD
(Jingu Stadium)
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | F | H | E |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CD | 1 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 12 | 1 |
| TS | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 10 | 0 |
Our guys like to keep ‘em close. Tonight was one to convert the infidels: Scoring right off the bat and a close game all the way to accompany the half-price beer. It’s also, as Tsubamegun regulars will know, another chance for your humble interlocutor to wonder what he makes of Shichijo, who was on a short leash again this evening.
Chunichi | Tokyo |
||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Araki (SS) | 1 | Aoki (CF) |
| 2 | Ohshima (CF) | 2 | Tanaka (2B) |
| 3 | Morino (3B) | 3 | Kawabata (SS) |
| 4 | Wada (LF) | 4 | Hatakeyama (1B) |
| 5 | Tanishige (C) | 5 | Balentien (RF) |
| 6 | Guzman (RF) | 6 | Miyamoto (3B) |
| 7 | Nakata (1B) | 7 | Guiel (LF) |
| 8 | Donoue (2B) | 8 | Aikawa (C) |
| 9 | Chen (P) | 9 | Shichijo (P) |
As is becoming a pattern, Shichijo got an out, then gave up a big one: a triple to Ohshima, which was soon followed by a successful Morino sac-fly. He followed that by walking Wada and giving up a single to Tanishige before finally striking out Guzman to end the side. Thank the kami of Jingu that the Dragons did the same dumb thing we would’ve done and gave up an out. This looked like it could’ve gone worse. 1-0 Chunichi.
The Swallows struck back quickly, though. Aoki led off with a hit; Tanaka, of course, sac-bunted him over; then Kawabata hit a big RBI double, as he has been doing more and more lately. This was immediately followed by a Hatakeyama two-run homer. 3-1 Tokyo.
In the second, the runs were reversed. Shichijo got Nakata out, but then gave up a single, struck out Chen, and returned to the top of the order to give up three straight doubles that brought in three runs. 4-3 Chunichi.
Fan-favorite Aaron Colin Guiel, back in the line-up, knocked a double to start the side for the Birds. Aikawa grounded out, but moved Guiel to third, then Morioka came in to pinch hit for Shichijo. No big surprise there. He hit an RBI double. Aoki then reached first on an error before Tanaka hit a weak one bag to the mound. 4-4.
Oshimoto took the mound in the third and promptly gave up a home run to Tanishige. 5-4 Chunichi.
Hisamoto took over the pitching for Chunichi in the third and walked Kawabata and Hatake. Balentien singled, but Kawabata got nabbed. Never fear, though. Miyamoto singled to load the bases. Guiel then came through with another double – this one for two runs. Aikawa and Oshimoto struck out to end the inning. 6-5 Tokyo.
In the fifth, Suzuki took the mound for Chunichi.
Watanabe stepped in for Tokyo in the sixth, Matsuoka the seventh, and Barnette the eighth. That’s when the tying run came, on a Donoue solo home run. 6-6, Final.
Kyuko (2 batters) and Lim (1 batter) closed.
Yes, that’s 14 ties.
