Tokyo Yakult Swallows 10

Yomiuri Giants 5

Streak: Won 1   Last 5: LW

(Tokyo Dome)

Tokyo’s bats finally exploded into life and Yoshinori pitched a gem as the Swallows ran out easy winners in the home of their beloved neighbours. Yoshinori pitched 8 superb innings, tossing a career high 135 pitches, and giving up just 1 run off 5 hits with 5 Ks thrown in for good measure. And boy did he get the run support he needed, and then some. D’Antona was the undoubted star of the show with the bat, as he went 3 for 4 with 2 homeruns and 5 RBIs. But it wasn’t just him, as the formidable 3 to 5 cleanup unit of Aoki, D’Antona and Guiel went a combined 9 for 13, bringing home all but one of the Swallows runs. The Swallows racked up 15 hits in total.

Tokyo lined up with just one change from the night before, with ex-Tiger Fujimoto making his debut at short, replacing the rookie Araki:

1. Fukuchi (LF)
2. Tanaka (2B)
3. Aoki (CF)
4. D’Antona (1B)
5. Guiel (RF)
6. Miyamoto (3B)
7. Fujimoto (SS)
8. Aikawa (C)
9. Yoshinori (P)

The Swallows did get a little help from an old friend in Giants starter Dicky Gonzalez. He had a game to forget, giving up 7 runs off 10 hits in his 6 innings of work as he more closely resembled the pitcher he was for a lot of his spell with the Swallows, as opposed to the all-star he seemed to become after joining the Giants last year. And long may this kind of form continue.

Tokyo took the lead in the top of the 1st, a Fukuchi lead off single and inevitable steal being later followed up by a D’Antona single to right, just out of the reach of the diving Takahashi at first. 1-0 Tokyo.

The lead was almost doubled in the 2nd, as Fujimoto got on thanks to the merest of contact between ball and leg, and was then moved along to second by a groundout. Up stepped Fukuchi who singled to left, but Fujimoto was waved home by the ever competent new third base coach Shiroishi. The throw home from Ramirez arrived at the plate at almost the same time as the diving Fujimoto, and the newcomer’s hand appeared to beat the tag of catcher Abe’s glove by the smallest of margins, but this being played where it was meant it was called in the favour of the home team and the lead remained at one.

But the Giants wouldn’t be so lucky in the 3rd. Tanaka and Aoki hit back-to-back singles to set the table for D’Antona, and he clubbed one just over the fence in left and it was 4-0 Tokyo.

Yoshinori found himself in his first pinch of the night in the bottom of the inning, as a walk and a single left him with men on the corners with two outs, but Ogasawara could only ground out to second and the threat was neutered.

The lead got bigger in the 6th. Miyamoto doubled off the wall in right before Fujimoto earned a walk to put men on first and second. Aikawa then flew out to shallow foul territory in left and Yoshinori struck out trying to bunt and there were two outs on the board. Fukuchi was then the recipient of the 3rd dead ball of the evening and the bases were loaded for Tanaka. The second baseman hit a grounder to third, but Ogasawara made a poor call in trying to get the out at second, Miyamoto was home and all the runners were safe, 5-0. Next up was Aoki who singled to right, bringing home two more runs, but Takaka was thrown out at third, ending the inning with the score at 7-0 Tokyo.

Ogasawara hit a solo shot to right in the bottom of the 6th to make it 7-1, but the seven run lead was restored in the 7th as Jamie hit his second homer of the game to just right of the scoreboard in centre and it was 8-1.

The final Tokyo runs came in the 8th against Yomiuri reliever Kaneto. Aoki knocked his third single of the evening to lead off and then Takeuchi (in for D’Antona) flew out to centre for out number one. Up stepped Guiel, and he saw the first pitch fly just over his head, to which he took exception and started walking angrily toward the mound. The benches cleared but the situation was calmed before anything of interest could transpire. Guiel then exacted revenge, by hitting one deep to dead centre that appeared to just about clear the fence and bounce back into play. The ball was fielded by the Giants and Guiel came to a halt at second. The umps then took advantage of the video replay option, and after a good five minutes of deliberation they waved Aaron home and it was 10-1 Tokyo.

And that was pretty much that. A portion of shine was taken off the win as Hye-Cheon Lee gave up 4 runs off 4 hits in the 9th, but Oshimoto came in to get the final out and Tokyo had themselves a moral boosting victory in their usual kryptonite-palace. 10-5 Tokyo Final.

The two teams meet again tomorrow afternoon for the rubber game of the series, with Muranaka due to take the mound for Tokyo.

• The Swallows made only their second ever free agency signing (the first being catcher Aikawa), bringing over Atsushi Fujimoto over from Hanshin. Seriously underwhelming news there then. Another light-hitting infielder to go with the collection we already have, but hey, an extra body is welcome I guess. Welcome to Tokyo Atsushi. He will, perhaps fittingly, wear now-retired Tsubamegun hero Shiroishi’s number 10.
• Aaron Guiel was rewarded for his solid 2009 season (.267 avg, 27HR, 80RBI) with a two year contract worth 90 million yen in the first year with incentives. The popular Canadian could earn up to 270 million over the course of his contract. Good business by the Swallows there, and I will be glad to see Aaron back in Tokyo colours in 2010. Incidentally, Guiel has apparently expressed a desire to end his career with the birds. So maybe from this year you’ll actually be able to buy some merchandise with his name on it. No, scratch that, stupid idea.
• No news on the re-signing of infielder Jamie D’Antona, despite noises from the organization that they wanted him back for 2010 and from the man himself indicating he would like to return. Though given Jamie’s treatment at the hands of our esteemed manager at the tail end of last season, I wouldn’t be surprised if we don’t see Jamie back in a Swallows uniform this season. Let’s hope that’s not the case as, my lord, we need him.
• Apparently the Swallows are looking to change Norichika Aoki’s uniform number from the 23 he’s used in his career so far, to the number 1. The same number worn by such past greats as Tsutomu Wakamatsu, Takahiro Ikeyama and erm, Akinori Iwamura. They are looking for him to become the face of the organization (as if he wasn’t already), but was a number change really necessary?
• Salary negotiations are now pretty much done. Expect something on that to hit Tsubamegun in the near future (here are last year‘s).
• Generally not very good pitcher Yuhei Takai is currently trying to convert to an outfielder by swinging the bat hundreds of thousands of times during this offseason. He’ll be using an Ichiro model glove and a Aoki model bat. Hopefully some of the branding will rub off on the lad and he’ll make the grade. Good luck to him.
• Former Tokyo bullpen ace Ryota Igarashi who left the Swallows this offseason to take a shot at the MLB, has signed with the New York Mets. Being somewhat of a Mets fan myself this is indeed good news, but we here at Tsubamegun Towers are putting money down on when we’ll see the headline “IGARASHIT” after Ryota’s first meltdown.

That’s about it for the moment. Expect activity to increase on the site as we approach the pre-season, and please bear with us as we try to get things in order post-site re-jig.

Oh, and a belated Happy New Year to you all out there.

It was reported that he should be able to leave the hospital within a week.

Hanshin Tigers 1

Tokyo Yakult Swallows 3

Streak: Won 4      Last 5:  LWWWW

(Jingu Stadium)

Whisper it, we are A-Class. No f*uck that. Shout it from the rooftops, WE ARE A-CLASS!!

In the biggest game the Swallows have faced in years, they did what was necessary and beat the Hanshin Tigers to secure 3rd place in the CL and the Climax Series place that goes with it. Savour it. We will be travelling to Nagoya to face the Dragons a week tomorrow.

Bring. It. On.

In front of over 30,000 fans in a packed to the rafters Jingu, a stadium in which the Swallows fans at least equalled, if not exceeded in numbers those of Hanshin (not been able  to say that for quite a few years), Tokyo lined up as thus:

1. Fukuchi (LF)
2. Noguchi (2B)
3. Miyamoto (3B)
4. Aoki (CF)
5. Hatakeyama (1B)
6. Guiel (RF)
7. Kawamoto (C)
8. Onizaki (SS)
9. Ishikawa (P)

Takada just had to get his oar in tonight, messing with the lineup that had proved so effective for the last few games, replacing Kajimoto with Noguchi and Yuichi with FataHatakeyama. At least he didn’t replace Guiel which we feared he might as the lineup was being announced, though he did move him from the no.5 to the no.6 slot..

And so to the game. The two team aces, Shohei Tateyama and Masanori Ishikawa were being entrusted with taking the Swallows to the CS at the expense of the Tigers, and after the former pitched a superb complete-game shutout the night before, all eyes were on Ishikawa to see if he could bring it home for Yakult.

Tokyo faced off against Tigers starter Iwata, and got off on the right foot in the bottom of the 1st.

Fukuchi led off with a single before being bunted along to second by Noguchi for the first out of the inning. Miyamoto then hit and infield single to put men on first and second before Aoki came to the plate. A wild pitch allowed both runners to advance into scoring positions, as Aoki dug in at the plate. After quite a battle, he hit the ninth pitch he saw through the gap between second and third and a run scored for 1-0 Tokyo with runners now at the corners with one out.

Next man up Hatakeyama blew the chance to extend the lead as he hit into a double play to end the inning.

In the top of the 2nd, two singles and an intentional walk for the Tigers’ no.8 hitter Kanoh loaded the bases for Iwata, but despite the pitcher making decent contact with the ball, it was taken by Onizaki who threw to second to make the final out of the inning and the runners were stranded.

In the bottom of the inning,  a Guiel leadoff double wasn’t capitalised on, as he ended up being stranded at third.

The Swallows eventually extended their lead in the 6th, with walks for Aoki and Guiel putting men on first and second with two outs. The unlikely hero of the night before, Kawamoto, poked one up the middle and it was 2-0. Onizaki was then given a free pass to first to load the bases before Ishikawa grounded out to end the inning.

Tokyo then gifted Hanshin the opportunity to get back in the game in the top of the 7th. Sakurai led off the inning with a single before Kanoh hit a grounder to short that had double play written all over it. Onizaki however let the ball past him and the Tigers had runners on the corners with no outs. After pitcher Iwata had twice tried and failed to bring runners home earlier in the game, Takahashi came in to pinch-hit. He hit a liner to center and the lead was halved as it was 2-1 as Tigers runners occupied first and second. A Hirano groundout and a Sekimoto flyout then put two outs on the board.

Toritani hit a fierce grounder to second which was stopped by the diving Morioka (in for Hatakeyama and occupying second, with Noguchi moving to first) but he couldn’t field the ball and the bases were loaded for the rather long in the tooth Kanemoto. He hit a fly ball to behind the plate which was taken by Kawamoto and more runners were stranded.

In the 8th Atchison took the mound for Hanshin, for his (quite ridiculously) 75th outing of the year.  Fukuchi reached second after a walk and trademark steal,  before making third on a Noguchi bunt. Miyamoto hit a single to right and things were a little more comfy at 3-1 Tokyo.

In the bottom of the inning, an Arai double and a Brazell groundout put a runner on third with one out. Takada then called closer Lim to the mound, after which no other reliever left the bullpen to warm up. It was clear that Lim was given the task of bringing home the win for Tokyo. A strikeout and flyout got Lim two of the five outs he needed in order to accomplish his brief and the 8th was done.

In the 9th Lim walked pinch-hitter Katsuragi to start the inning, but a Hirano ground out, a Hiyama strikout put the Swallows just one out away from their goal. Toritani obliged with a flyout to centre and it was mission accomplished, 3-1 Tokyo Final.

Ishikawa took the win after his 7 and 1/3 innings of five-hit one-run baseball, with two Ks and two BBs. He, as we suspected he would, came up with the goods when required to put his record at 13-7/3.54.

Lim earned his 28th save of the year with his ERA now down to 2.05.

Tokyo were outhit 8-6, the Swallows’ hits coming from Fukuchi (.271), Aoki (.303), Guiel (.266) and Kawamoto (.180), all with a hit apiece, and the quite simply superhuman Miyamoto (.294) with two hits.

A few thoughts:

• Miyamoto is the MF man. Playing an enormous role down the stretch and all with a fractured thumb on his throwing hand. He is without doubt the current holder of the Mr.Swallows title. Shinya, you have my everlasting respect.
• Jingu was as busy as I’ve seen it since the Furuta retirement game. Great atmosphere, but huge lines for toilets and concessions showed that Jingu is more comfortable with it’s more regular 15,000 or so inhabitants.
• Where did all those extra Swallows fans come from? The same fans that chanted Takada’s name at the end of the game. I shouted that we didn’t need him next year, and called them all idiots for cheering him. Party pooper? No. Just not a fuktard.
• Never seen the team so hyped for as long as I can remember. Outs were accompanied by punching of the air and a real sense of fight by the Tokyo players and staff alike. Love it. Can we have that passion every game next year please?
• Aoki looked absolutely elated at the end of the game. Finally he gets a reward for his stellar seasons during what has been a barren spell for the Swallows.

The season series ended at 15-9 in the Swallows’ favour. The only teams Tokyo have a losing record against are the first-placed Orange Fuktards and the last-placed Baystars. Go figure.

This is Tokyo’s first A-Class finish since 2006, when they also finished 3rd. This is the first time in five years that the Tigers have finished in their more historically accurate B-Class position.

So, on to the Climax series which starts in Nagoya against the Chunchi Dragons next Saturday.

Between now and then is a game against the Dragons on Sunday before the final home game of the year (unless we make the Nippon Series) Monday against Yomiuri. Both now have little meaning as the Swallows are now 1.5 games clear of 4th and 11.5 behind 2nd. We’re all waiting for the real stuff to start next week.

Can’t wait.

Hanshin Tigers 1

Tokyo Yakult Swallows 7

Streak: Won 6    Last 5:  WWWWW

(Jingu Stadium)

Tokyo starter, Takagi, had another solid outing as Tokyo won a very important contest versus the Hanshin Tigers.

Takagi wasn’t able to clock another complete game for the birds, but he did make it through some tough moments and gave up only one run off of five hits. Despite the three walks and one HBP he issued, which were very effective at keeping things interesting, he did ultimately have a very solid start.

Tokyo’s lineup:

1. Fukuchi (LF)
2. Tanaka (2B)
3. Miyamoto (3B)
4. Aoki (CF)
5. Yuichi (1B)
6. Guiel (RF)
7. Onizaki (SS)
8. Aikawa (C)
9. Takagi (P)

The Tigers stranded at least one runner in each of the first four innings. The most disappointing inning was the fourth when Takagi was able to find his way out of a one out, bases loaded jam.

For their part, the birds were busy stranding runners left, right, and center as well. The most annoying situation was a one out, bases loaded bonanza that kicked off when Takagi singled with an out on the board. Fukuchi’s hard grounder toward second was ruled an error, and Tanaka eked out an infield single to give Miyamoto a fair shot at a post-game hero interview.

Miymoto, however, grounded into a double play and injured his hand on an unnecessary head-first slide into first base. Miyamoto was replaced in the lineup by Hatakeyama, and the inning was over for the Swallows.

The scoring in this very tight game finally got underway in the bottom of the sixth. Fukuchi grounded out to second, but Tanaka reached on a HBP. Hatakeyama then popped up to right for out number two, and Aoki then singled to left. With two outs, Yuichi came through with a huge double to center that cleared the drawn-in Hirano’s head. Both Tanaka and Aoki scored to make it 2-0 Tokyo.

Two walks later, the first intentional (Guiel) and the second probably not (Onizaki), and the Swallows were looking at another bases loaded opportunity. But fortunately for the Tigers, Aikawa was at the plate. Aikawa ended the threat with a sliced liner right at the second baseman.

The Tigers got one back in the top of the seventh after Yano’s tricky fly ball at the wall in right was not reeled in by Guiel (the people sitting near me said he should have caught it, but it wasn’t counted as an error. I was just impressed that he was able to get to the right place so quickly). Yano made it to third on the play, and he was brought home on Hiyama’s dribbler into right for the Tigers’ first and only run. Mayumi’s second sac bunt (he called for on in the top of the first as well) perhaps hastened the end of this inning as Takagi was able to get Sekimoto to fly out to center, and then Lee (3.18) came in to induce a ground ball to short from Toritani. 2-1 Swallows.

The bottom of the seventh is where the game really changed. Noguchi, pinch-hitting in place of Lee, struck out. Then Fukuchi drew a walk and stole second about three or four pitches later (Hanshin actually guessed correctly and Yano called for a pitch-0ut, but Fukuchi was easily safe).

And then on the very next pitch, Fukuchi stole third as well.

Tanaka, who had a front row row seat for all of the base-swiping, then drew a walk of his own to put runners on the corners with one out. And that would be it for Hanshin’s first reliever of the evening. Atchison then came in to deal with the mess, and he promptly gave up a single to Yoshimoto to bring Fukuchi home from third. 3-1 Swallows.

Next man up, Aoki, had to contend with a little bit of Atchison inside pitching sprinkled with a little bit of Atchison verbal condescension, but ultimately he poked a single into left that would score two and send Atchison to the showers without recording a single out. 5-1 giddy birds.

D’Antona, pinch-hitting for Yuichi, ended up drawing another walk, and so that meant that two runners were on base for Onizaki’s next at-bat. After Guiel’s pop fly to center (which moved the runners over to second and third), Onizaki hit a two out single to center that cleared the bases. He was eventually thrown out at second trying to stretch the hit into a double, but the damage had already been done. 7-1 Tokyo.

Igarashi (2.61) was already all warmed up, so he was brought in to pitch the eighth anyway. He retired all three batters he faced on a total pitch count of 14.

The Swallows got two more runners on base in the eighth, but stranded both of them.

And luckily, even though he was fully warmed up, somebody finally thought better of using Lim, and instead Oshimoto (2.68) was brought in to pitch the ninth.

And that was it. The Swallows extended their lead to 1.5 games over Hanshin in fourth, and two more critical games follow (weather pending).

Tokyo Yakult Swallows 2

Yomiuri Giants 4

Streak: Lost 2   Last 5: LWDLL

(Tokyo Dome)

Well if Friday was a travesty of justice, and yesterday a feeble blowout, then today was simple wastefulness. Tokyo outhit the Giants 8 to 6 and had a few good chances to score more runs but as has been their problem during this last month, they just couldn’t get enough men home. Oh, and they gifted two runs to their esteemed opposition too, just for good measure.

Tonight’s lineup was the same as last, with Ihara continuing in place of Guiel. Yoshinori took the mound to start for the birds, looking for an improvement on the last time he faced Yomiuri, when he gave up six runs in five innings for his seventh loss of the year.

And he didn’t get off the the best of starts as he walked the first man he faced, Sakamoto, who would eventually score on a Ramirez groundout for 1-0 Yomiuri.

But Tokyo came roaring back in it in the top of the 2nd against Yomiuri’s ugliest starter Takahashi.  Ihara lead off with a single before something exceedingly strange happened: Takada didn’t call for next man up Miyamoto to bunt, instead allowing him to swing away. And do you know what? It paid dividends as he hit the ball along the leftfield foul line into the corner for a double to put two men in scoring positions with none out. Keizo then hit a groundout to first but the runners moved along, with Ihara scoring to tie things up at 1-1. Aikawa then hit one of his own to the the leftfield corner for another double and the Swallows found themselves up, 2-1 Tokyo. Yoshinori grounded out to second to put Aikawa at third with two outs, but Fukuchi could only strikeout swinging to end the inning.

In the botom of the same inning, Yoshinori started to lose his control, walking pig-boy Abe, allowing a Wakiya double and then walking Sakamoto to load the bases with two outs. Next, facing pint-sized annoyance Matsumoto, he worked the count full after initially falling behind. Then,  with the sixth pitch of the at-bat, he got him to hit a grounder to short, which should have lead to the inning being over, right? Wrong. Keizo saw the ball late as it came through the legs of the running Wakiya, but he fielded the ball and threw it to first. Only he threw it about a metre or so above the jumping D’Antona as it ended up in the crowd for a ground-rule double. Two runs scored and it was 3-2 Yomiuri.

Yoshinori then struck out Ramirez, Kamei and Abe in order in the bottom of the 3rd before being replaced by Takagi for the 4th. I believe it was due to more blister troubles on his right hand. Yoshinori finished his three innings having given up three runs (one earned) off three hits, striking out four and walking three.

Takagi (1.64) worked a hitless 4th and 5th, before giving up a run via yet another a pig-boy Abe solo homer in the 6th, 4-2 Yomiuri.

In the top of the 7th Yomiuri reliever Ochi took the mound. A Miyamoto HBP, a Keizo strikout, an Aikawa single and a pinch-hit groundout from Yuichi put men on second and third with two outs. But again Fukuchi was wasteful and flew out to centre to end the inning and strand the runners.

Yosikawa (0.00) worked a hitless bottom of the 7th before Tokyo had another chance to score in the top of the 8th. Aoki singled and made it to second on a D’Antona groundout before Ihara came to the plate with two outs on the board. He could only strikeout looking against reliver Yamaguchi and another man was stranded.

In the bottom of the 8th, Lee (3.30) somehow managed to keep his 0.00 ERA against the Giants this year intact, dispite loading the bases with two outs. Fortunately for him Tani grounded out to end the inning.

And so to the 9th and Kroon. After two groundouts, an Aikawa single and a walk for Hatakeyama put two men on for Fukuchi. But the outfielder could only groundout and the game was over.

Yoshinori took the loss for his three decent innings, and his record now stands at 5-8/3.23.

Tokyo now get a day off before another huge series against Hiroshima at Jingu from Tuesday.

Tokyo Yakult Swallows 3

Yomiuri Giants 3

Streak: Drawn 1   Last 5: LLLWD

(Tokyo Dome)

Tokyo and those stupid orange fuktards Yomiuri played out the longest game in the CL this year, as they couldn’t be separated in 5 hours and 27 minutes of baseball.

Tragically, the Swallows were robbed of a well deserved victory by a sheet of stained fabric. But of course, things always have a way of turning out in the Giants’ favour in good ‘ol Tokyo Dome.

Tokyo lined up a little something like this:

1. Fukuchi (LF)
2. Tanaka (2B)
3. Aoki (CF)
4. Takeuchi (1B)
5. Guiel (RF)
6. Miyamoto (3B)
7. Keizo (SS)
8. Aikawa (C)
9. Yuki (P)

The Swallows faced off against old-boy Seth Greisinger, and until the bottom of the 9th inning it looked like we would get the better of him for once.

Tokyo took the lead in the top of the 2nd inning, with a Miyamoto double following a Guiel single to make it 1-0 Tokyo.

And it would be 2-0 in the top of the 3rd. Fukuchi walked to lead off the inning before Tanaka was asked to perform his regular taksacbunt job to put the runner on second with one out. Aoki then stepped up to hit a single to centre and Fukuchi came home to double the lead.

Yuki did well, keeping the Giants bats at arm length until the bottom of the 6th, when Ogasawara went deep to right to make it 2-1.

But just as Yomiuri looked to get back in it, Tokyo hit back in the top of the 7th. A Guiel single and two walks (the second walk being earned by Hatakeyama, in for Yuki) loaded the bases with two outs, after which Seth was exchanged with Yamaguchi on the mound to face Fukuchi. He managed to get a piece of the third pitch, sending it bouncing up toward the picher. Yamaguchi fluffed taking the ball on the bounce as it got past him (for an error), allowing the run to score and the bases to be re-loaded, 3-1 Tokyo. Next man up Tanaka then hit one deep to centre, but Matsumoto made a good catch on the run and the inning was ended with the lead at two.

So Yuki (3.62) finished his 7 innings having given up just the 1 run off 7 hits, striking out 6 and walking none. He really should have earned his fourth win of the season but it wasn’t to be. He has however been an invaluable acquisition for the team, and if it wasn’t for him bolstering the rotation, we’d already be in 4th place. Of that I’m pretty sure.

Matsui (4.15) pitched a one-hit scoreless bottom of the 7th before Tokyo once again faced Yamaguchi. Two dead balls (Takeuchi and Guiel) followed by a Miyamoto single loaded the bases for Keizo with one out. Yamaguchi was gone and Ochi appeared in his place. Keizo then grounded out to short, the out was made at home and the bases were left loaded for Aikawa, who could only ground out to short again and the runners were stranded.

Lee (3.54) came in to face the heart of the Giants order in the bottom of the 8th. In his previous six appearances against the Giants this year he’d somehow managed to preserve a 0.00 ERA, but in this game he was very lucky not to add some points to that stingy figure. A walk, a strikeout and two back to back singles loaded the bases with one out. With Igarashi and Lim both out with niggling injuries, Takada turned to Matsuoka from the bullpen. He struck out Ohmichi and Wakiya and the threat was snuffed out.

Shota Kimura made short work of Matsuoka, Fukuchi and Tanaka in the top of the 9th and then it was just three outs between Tokyo and their first consecutive wins since August 1st.  Matsuoka was also looking for the first save of his career.

A couple of singles combined with a wild pitch and a steal put men on second and third with one out for Matsmoto. And he hit a groundout to second but the runner scored to make it 3-2 and leave a runner on third with two outs on the board. Up stepped Ogasawara, who’d gone deep earlier in the game. What happened next perfectly illustrates the luckless rut the Swallows are in at the moment. They deserved to win this game, and Yuki deserved his victory. But that piece of stained fabric just had to get involved.

You see, for all Tokyo Dome/”The Big Egg”‘s global fame, those that have been there can tell you what a shit hole it really is. Cramped seating, inadequate toilet facilities made worse by the bunch of orange-clad retards who plague the place on the regular. It also has a stained (think teenage boy’s bedsheets) roof made of a number of square fabric panels.

Well, Ogasawara hit the second pitch he saw high into the air to right. In any other stadium in the CL it would have been a guaranteed out, and indeed Guiel positioned himself in the outfield to make the third out. But the ball had different ideas, as it hit the roof and headed pretty much straight down, evading the despairing run and glove of a clearly surprised Guiel and falling to the ground. And in Tokyo Dome such a ball is considered in play (though if Yomiuri had been on the wrong end of such a play it would have been probably called a foul…..), so Ogasawara had himself an RBI double and it was 3-3.

Absolutely sickening. The win was gone and all due to a freak event that simply couldn’t be prevented or countered. Domes are an affront to all that is good in baseball, and Tokyo Dome should now be demolished. Preferably with their team and fans in it. And I want to be there to throw bricks at the ones that survive.

Matsuoka finished the 9th, having worked 1 and 2/3 innings with his ERA slipping to 3.35.

And so it was on to extra innings, and Tokyo managed just a hit an inning as Hara used Kroon for the 10th and 11th, and then three pitchers for the 12th.

Tokyo used Takagi (1.13) for the 10th and he loaded the bases (a single and two walks) but escaped unscathed.He also started the 11th, but plonked catcher Katoh in the head which got him thrown out of the game. Kamada (4.00) came in to work the rest of the inning, giving up just one walk and striking out three. The Katoh beaning led to infielder Takuya Kimura being used as an emergency catcher in the 12th (the first time he’d done that role in ten years) and he did okay, despite Tokyo getting men on first and second.

Yoshikawa in his first appearance of the year worked a hitless 12th and that was that. The longest game of the year, which wouldn’t have been so if not for that f*cking jizz-stained roof.

Aoki (.275) and Miyamoto (3.14) both had two hits for the night, while Guiel (.262) had three with a HBP.

The two teams return to the Dome tomorrow at 14:00 for game two of the series. That’s not if it hasn’t already been demolished as per my request, which of course would be the honourable thing to do, for the whole of humankind.

Chunichi Dragons 6

Tokyo Yakult Swallows 11

Streak: Won 1    Last 5: LWLLW

(Jingu Stadium)

While the starting pitching again left something to be desired, the Tokyo bats awoke from their slumber as they knocked in eleven runs off fifteen hits in overturning the Dragons at Jingu.

Yuki Tanaka (4.68) started for Tokyo and came within an out of being in line for his third win of the season, but in the end he had to settle for a no-decision after giving up four runs off ten hits in his 4 and 2/3 innings of work.

Chunichi starter Ogasawara wasn’t any better, lasting just 1 and 2/3 innings, but thankfully Yakult’s bullpen was more robust than the Dragons’.

Tokyo lined up like so:

1. Aoki (CF)
2. Tanaka (2B)
3. Fukuchi (LF)
4. D’Antona (1B)
5. Ihara (RF)
6. Miyamoto (3B)
7. Aikawa (C)
8. Keizo (SS)
9. Yuki (P)

Guiel was given a rest after his recent slump, with Ihara coming in to replace him. Aoki was continued at leadoff with Fukuchi trying his hand at the troublesome no.3 slot.

Tokyo took the lead in the bottom of the 1st inning. A one-out Tanaka double and a Fukuchi single set the stage for D’Antona who hit his 12th home run of the year to bring in three runs and make is 3-0 Tokyo.

Four two-out hits and a walk cut the lead to 3-2 in the top of the 2nd before a Keizo solo homer (no.7 for 2009) made it 4-2 in the bottom of the inning.

But back came Chunchi in the top of the 3rd, a solo shot from Koike cutting the lead to 4-3.

The 4th inning was scoreless for both teams before Chunichi drew level for the first time in the game in the top of the 5th. A Wada double put a man on second with two outs for outfielder Fujii, who hit a timely single to bring home the tying Wada to make it 4-4. A rather crestfallen Yuki was then replaced by Hagiwara (3.33) who got the last out of the inning.

Yakult pulled back ahead in this see-saw contest in the bottom of the inning. Back to back solo homers for Fukuchi (3) and D’Antona (13) made it 6-4 Tokyo.

In came the usually reliable Matsuoka (2.35) to pitch the 6th, but two singles and a dead ball for Blanco put him in a bases loaded two-out pinch. A pinch from which he couldn’t escape as Wada, having worked the count full, poked one through the infield to left scoring two runs and like a roach that just wouldn’t die Chunichi had made it 6-6.

But the Swallows took a decisive lead straight away in the bottom of the 6th off reliever Payano who replaced Nelson. An Aikawa leadoff walk and a Keizo single put men on first and second. Pinch-hitter Noguchi then laid down a bunt, but Payano made the wrong choice and threw to third, Aikawa was safe and Noguchi reached first on the fielder’s choice. The bases were loaded for Aoki, who hit his second single of the game to left, scoring two runners for 8-6 Tokyo, and leaving men on first and second for Tanaka.

The second baseman then bunted to move both runners into scoring position with one out. Up stepped Fukuchi who hit one to short, but Chunichi shortstop Ibata threw home, Noguchi was safe and Tokyo had their second man reach base via a fielders choice, 9-6 Tokyo.

Lee Hye-Cheon (2.84) and Igarashi (1.15) pitched hitless 7th and 8th innings respectively before Tokyo added on two runs in the bottom of the 8th. Tanaka reached first with a single and was brought home with a Fukuchi double to make it 10-6. Another run would score on a wild pitch and it was 11-6.

Lim (0.00) pitched a swift 1,2,3 9th and that was that for 11-6 Tokyo Final.

So, an encouraging night, and hopefully the kind of healthy victory that will get the team back on a good roll.

Pitching-wise, aside from Yuki who again proved himself eminently hittable, it has been nice to see Lee emerge as a reliable option out of the bullpen. He’s looking more and more assured as the season progresses.

But it has been the bats that have been equally responsible for the bad run of late, but they sure did well tonight. Every starter bar Yuki got a hit: Fukuchi (.281)  and Keizo (.247) had three each, Aoki .(258), Tanaka (.286) and D’Antona (.262) had two (Jamie’s being both homers) with everyone else chipping in with one each.

D’Antona led the way with 4 RBIs, Fukuchi had 3, Aoki 2 and Keizo 1.

The Swallows just outhit the Dragons 15 to 13.

The way Tokyo didn’t let Chunichi’s continual pegging-back of their lead affect them showed they still have the fighting qualities that got them to 2nd position in the first place. A second position that they now once again have sole ownership of.

The two teams meet for the final game of the series tomorrow, and after a healthy win apiece it should be a keenly contested rubber game.

Chiba Lotte Marines 1

Tokyo Yakult Swallows 10

Streak:  Won 4   Last 5: LWWWW

(Jingu Stadium)

The two-run homer was the Swallows’ weapon of choice, with Aoki, D’Antona, Aikawa and Takeuchi all going deep as Tokyo rolled over the Marines at Jingu.

Yoshinori made his second start since rejoining the top team after a spell on the farm with his blisters, and he had one of his best outings of 2009 so far. Though he was helped a touch by Chiba’s affinity for hitting into the double play (three times for Yoshinori, four overall). The nineteen year-old finished his six innings having given up no runs off five hits, striking out seven and walking three to improve his record to 3 and 4 with his ERA falling to 4.240.

Today’s lineup saw Takada shuffle things around again, with D’Antona back for the second straight game, this time in his regular no.4 slot:

1. Ihara (LF)
2. Tanaka (2B)
3. Aoki (CF)
4. D’Antona (1B)
5. Guiel (RF)
6. Miyamoto (3B)
7. Aikawa (C)
8. Kawashima Keizo (SS)
9. Yoshinori (P)

Yakult faced off against Chiba starter Naruse, and took the lead in the bottom of the opening inning. Ihara led off with a double and was moved along by a Tanaka bunt, but Chiba tried and failed to make the out at third, leaving both men safe. Next man Aoki hit a groundout to second but it was enough to score Ihara for 1-0 Tokyo.

And the first of the two-run shots came in the 3rd, with a two-out Tanaka single being followed up by Aoki’s sixth homer of the year and it was 3-0 Tokyo.

The second came in the 6th, D’Antona hitting his ninth dinger of the year to bring home himself and Aoki to make it 5-0.

Matsuoka (1.952) replaced Yoshinori in the top of the 7th, and Chiba’s bats finally woke up with three hits and a run (Imae with the timely hit) narrowing to Tokyo lead to 5-1.

But the five-run lead was restored in the bottom of the 7th, singles from Hatakeyama (pinch-hitting for the pitcher) and Ihara were followed by a Tanaka single up the middle to bring home a run and make it 6-1 Tokyo.

Igarashi (1.421) pitched a hitless top of the 8th before Tokyo blew the doors off in the bottom of the inning with their third and fourth two-run shots.  Aikawa hit homerun no.2 for the year (and his second in the last three games) before Takeuchi (pinch hitting for Ihara) hit his first of the year to cap the scoring at 10-1 Tokyo.

Hagiwara (2.872) pitched the 9th and that was that, with the final two outs coming from a double play.

Although Chiba racked up 9 hits (to Tokyo’s 15) they just couldn’t get into a groove (or rather, the double plays screwed things up just a touch) as Yakult strolled to an easy victory.

Yoshinori and Aoki were selected for the postgame “Hero” interviews. Aoki went 2 for 4 with an intentional walk as he brought home three of the Tokyo runs to take his average up to .270. When told that it was his first Hero interview appearance of the year he commented that it was “Natsukashii/????” (he felt nostalgic). Hopefully we’ll be seeing him up there more often from now on and it’ll be less of a novelty for him.

The Swallows have now scored 24 runs in their last two games.

The two teams return to Jingu tomorrow evening, rainy-season weather permitting, for the last of their four games with Tokyo ahead 2-1.

Tokyo Yakult Swallows 3

Chunichi Dragons 6

Streak: Lost 1   Last 5: WWLWL

(Nagaragawa Stadium)

A pretty horrible three innings from starter Ichiba gave Tokyo a mountain to climb early on, and though they did their best to fight back they came up short on a rainy evening in Gifu.

Yakult came into the game having won the last five meetings between the teams, but the Chunichi bats made light work of Ichiba as it soon became clear the run wouldn’t be extended to six.

Ichiba gave up two runs in the 2nd inning courtesy of a two run homer from catcher Oyama. And the lead was five in the 3rd, another homer, this time a monster three run shot to left from Tony Blanco which made it 5-0 Chunichi.

That was all for Ichiba as he left the game having given up five runs off five hits, striking out three and walking two.

Lee came in to pitch a scoreless 4th before Yakult struck back against Chunichi starter Asakura in the top of the 5th.

Guiel got hit to put him on first with no outs and then Miyamoto singled to put men on first and third. Tanaka then hit into his second double play of the game but Guiel came home to make it 5-1 Chunichi. Catcher Kawamoto, starting his first game of the season due to what must be an injury to Aikawa, demonstrated the one thing he can do better than the regular catcher by hitting a solo homer to right to make it 5-2. A home run that made Tanaka’s double play seem all the more wasteful.

Oshimoto came in to pitch a scoreless bottom of the 5th and then Tokyo narrowed the lead further in the top of the 6th.   Kawashima hit a grounder to short but reached base on an error at first by Blanco. Fukuchi then singled, Kawashima tried to make it to third but was thrown out, allowing Fukuchi to reach second. Aoki then singled to bring home Fukuchi and make it 5-3 Chunichi.

But that was as close as they would get. Oshimoto pitched another scoreless inning in the 6th, Matsuoka did likewise in the 7th and then Maruyama gave up a solo homer to Wada in the 8th to make it 6-3 Chunichi.

In came Iwase to close out the game in the 9th, and earn his 200th career save (Congratulations Iwase!!) and it was all over for a 6-3 Final.

Ichiba took the loss and his record now stands at 1 and 3 with an ERA of 5.311. One must now question his suitability for a starting role as apart from a few exeptions he’s looked not quite up to scratch in a Tokyo uniform thus far.

D’Antona went hitless for the third straight game on his 27th birthday, going 0 for 4 and striking out three times for good measure. He’s now hitting .235 for the year.

Miyamoto had another two hit night to take him to .300, and is now one of only two regular starters to be at or above the .300 mark (the other being Fukuchi who’s at .301).

So a loss, but mostly down to a poor start from Ichiba but even then the chances were there to get back into the game but they just couldn’t take them. Hopefully the Swallows can get back on track tomorrow evening when the two teams meet again, this time at the Nagoya Dome.