An in-depth look at the Tokyo Yakult Swallows, Jingu Stadium, the Central League, and Japanese Pro Baseball
May 20th, 2013 Tokyo Swallows 1 Tohoku Golden Eagles 3 Streak: Lost 2 Last 5: LWWLL (Kleenex Stadium Miyagi) Oh so streaky Tokyo once again embarked on a downward swing, losing their second straight game as their bats were found wanting in Sendai. Muranaka got himself a lead in the top of the 1st, as a (back [...]
May 19th, 2013 Tokyo Swallows 0 Tohoku Golden Eagles 1 Streak: Lost 1 Last 5: LLWWL (Kleenex Stadium Miyagi) Your Swallows headed north for a pair of games in Tohoku, hoping to build on the home run-fueled wins of the previous two nights (game reports here and here). But they were going to need [...]
May 18th, 2013 Chiba Lotte Marines 3 Tokyo Yakult Swallows 5 Last 5: LLLWW Streak: Won 2 (Jingu Stadium) The Swallows sweep their two game series against the Marines at Jingu in a bizarre series of plays that should’ve seen the Swallows win comfortably, but ultimately lead to a cardiac-inducing game. If I had told [...]
May 17th, 2013 Chiba Lotte Marines 5 Tokyo Yakult Swallows 6 Last 5: LLLLW Streak: Won 1 (Jingu Stadium) Tonight saw the Birds battle back in superior fashion and make up for some anti-Swallows calls in the 7th. Ishikawa was on the hill for the start of the game but didn’t have his best [...]
May 15th, 2013 Saitama Seibu Lions 9 Tokyo Swallows 3 Streak: Lost 6 Last 5: LLLLL (Meiji Jingu Stadium) Brace ourselves, indeed, Mr. Watkins. Here’s hoping there’s a net at the end of this slide. The Swallows continued to mix things up in attempt to end the hemorrhaging – Takeuchi started at first, Coach [...]
May 14th, 2013 Saitama Seibu Lions 4 Tokyo Swallows 3 Streak: Lost 5 Last 5: LLLLL (Meiji Jingu Stadium) Brace yourself folks, as for better or for worse, it’s Interleague time. It was during this period last year where the wheels fell off the Swallows season, as they embarked upon a truly dire ten [...]
May 12th, 2013 Hanshin Tigers 4 Tokyo Swallows 2 Streak: Lost 4 Last 5: WLLLL (Botchan Stadium - Matsuyama) Tokyo got an early lead and held onto it for most of the game thanks to Yagi’s solid start, but Hanshin won the game on a three-run effort in the top of the eighth. And guess [...]
May 11th, 2013 Hanshin Tigers 11 Tokyo Swallows 7 Streak: Lost 3 Last 5: WWLLL (Botchan Stadium - Matsuyama) Rookie Yasuhiro Ogawa took to the mound to try to avenge his drubbing from last week. Unfortunately despite an OK start, Ogawa and the Swallows’ pitching served up enough meatballs that the Swallows’ offense was never [...]
May 10th, 2013 Hanshin Tigers 5 Tokyo Swallows 0 Streak: Lost 2 Last 5: WWWLL (Botchan Stadium - Matsuyama) Tonight, Messenger rocked the Birds on the mound and at the dish. If it wasn’t for the crazy 5th inning, the Birds may have gotten a win tonight. However, the 5th inning did happen and the Birds bats [...]
May 8th, 2013 Chunichi Dragons 6 Tokyo Swallows 5 Streak: Lost 1 Last 5: LWWWL (Meiji Jingu Stadium) Tokyo came out on the short end of this nearly tit-for-tat battle for the top of the B-class. (Then again, most of the Central League is a battle for who can climb all the way up to .500.) Chunichi [...]
