An in-depth look at the Tokyo Yakult Swallows, Jingu Stadium, the Central League, and Japanese Pro Baseball
October 12th, 2011 Tokyo Yakult Swallows 3 Chunichi Dragons 4 Streak: Lost 3 Last 5: LWLLL (Nagoya Dome) This was an uneventful, low-hitting game for five and a half innings. Masubuchi and Nelson were even pretty evenly matched in pitch count. Then, in the bottom of the sixth, starting at the top of the [...]
October 7th, 2011 Hiroshima Carp 0 Tokyo Swallows 1 Streak: Won 1 Last 5: WLLLW (Meiji Jingu Stadium) After reluctantly relinquishing their lead in the CL standings, the Swallows return home to squeak out a win. In tonight’s game, I was interested in seeing how Akagawa would do after his no decision against Yokohama last [...]
August 30th, 2011 Hiroshima Toyo Carp 3 Tokyo Yakult Swallows 2 Streak: Lost 4 Last 5: DLLLL (Meiji Jingu Stadium) Erm, can’t we just end the regular season right now? Please? Because the way things are going, it seems highly likely that the Swallows will no longer be in possession of first place come this [...]
July 19th, 2011 Tokyo Yakult Swallows 6 Yokohama BayStars 3 Streak: Won 1 Last 5: WLLDW (Yokohama Stadium) Tokyo returned to winnings ways in Yokohama as Balentien re-discovered his mojo in a major way. Us: Aoki (CF) Tanaka (2B) Whitesell (1B) Hatakeyama (LF) Balentien (RF) Miyamoto (3B) Kawabata (SS) Aikawa (C) Tateyama (P) Them: Ishikawa [...]
July 12th, 2011 Chunichi Dragons 4 Tokyo Yakult Swallows 6 Streak: Won 2 Last 5: WWLWW (Meiji Jingu Stadium) With a home series against the second placed Dragons presenting the Swallows with the chance to further extend their lead at the CL summit, they took full advantage as Shichijo (with the help of ample [...]
July 5th, 2011 Yomiuri Giants 4 Tokyo Yakult Swallows 5 Streak: Won 2 Last 5: DWLWW (Shizuoka Kusanagi Stadium) Coco Balentien awoke from his slumping slumber just in time to break a 9th inning tie, and ensured that the Swallows didn’t have to endure yet another draw against Yomiuri. Us: Aoki (CF) Tanaka (2B) [...]
June 28th, 2011 Tokyo Yakult Swallows 4 Yomiuri Giants 1 Streak: Won 1 Last 5: LWWLW (Koriyama, Fukushima Prefecture) It was a fairytale start for 26 year old rookie Yuki Shichijo as he put on a sparkling performance to win his first game on his pro-debut. And just to make it all the [...]
June 24th, 2011 Yokohama BayStars 1 Tokyo Yakult Swallows 2 Streak: Won 1 Last 5: WLWLW (Meiji Jingu Stadium) Looking to resume their Central League schedule where they left off in mid-May (i.e. by winning a lot), the Swallows got the winning start they needed against the NPB’s doormats, but my there was a [...]
June 14th, 2011 Saitama Seibu Lions 5 Tokyo Yakult Swallows 6 Streak: Won 2 Last 5: LDLWW (Meiji Jingu Stadium) After three innings of this one Tokyo looked dead and buried, but the continued resurgence of their bullpen again kept them in the game while their bats pulled off a remarkable come from behind [...]
May 31st, 2011 Tokyo Yakult Swallows 3 Chiba Lotte Marines 1 Streak: Won 1 Last 5: LWLLW (QVC Marine Field) After their inept drubbing at the hands of Seibu on Sunday, the Swallows headed back to the scene of their lowest ebb under the previous manager to try and get the wheels back on [...]
