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04/30/2003 Archived Entry: "Japan Baseball News:Tigers 1st, Swallows 2nd, Giants 3rd in Central League"
Japan Baseball News:Tigers 1st, Swallows 2nd, Giants 3rd in Central League
by Robert Kiyoshi Shadlow
Sources: Japan Times (May 1, 2003) and Korea Times (April 30, 2003)
Nippon Pro Baseball highlights for April 30th games
Hanshin Tigers 6 - Yomiuri Giants 2:
Kei Igawa (3-3) gave up only one run and six hits in innings to beat the Giants at Koshien Stadium.
Jeff Williams mopped up with a 1-2-3 ninth inning to extend the Tigers Central League to two games.
Akihiro Yano hit a two-run home run and Atsushi Kataoka had three RBIs and hit 2-for-3.
Yakult Swallows 4 - Yokohama BayStars 1:
Jason Beverlin (3-0) struck out six batters in five innings allowing only one run and five hits to lead the Swallows past the BayStars at Jingu Stadium.
Shingo Takatsu earned his sixth save of 2003 as Yakult climbed into second place in the CL.
Hiroshima Carp 3 - Chunichi Dragons 1:
Shinji Sasaoka yielded only one run, eight hits in eight innings for the win against the Dragons at Hiroshima.
Kenshin Kawakami pitched eight innings giving up only two runs and eight but got the loss.
Seibu Lions 8 - Fukuoka Daiei Hawks 4:
The Lions drove in six runs in the eigth inning including Taisei Takagi and Scott McClain's solo home runs for their fourth straight win.
Alex Cabrera hit his eighth home run of 2003 in the game at Seibu Dome.
Orix BlueWave 7 - Osaka Kintetsu Buffaloes 3:
Roosevelt Brown and Ikuro Katsuragi had two RBIs a piece to finish the third game of a three-game sweep off the Buffaloes at Kobe.
Gambatte Leon Lee!!!
Nippon Ham Fighters 17 - Chiba Lotte Marines 6:
Katsuhiro Nishiura hit a pair of two-run home runs and Shinji Takahashi had a two-run homer to trounce the Marines at Tokyo Dome.
News
Former Yomiuri Giants pitcher Cho Sung-min has expressed his desire to enter the 2003 Korean Baseball Organization draft. Cho retired from NPB last year due to an arm injury.
The right hander compiled 11-10 record with 11 saves and a 2.84 ERA from 1996 to 1998.
His interest to return to baseball was stimulated after Cho saw the 2002 KBO Championship Series.
Selections for the first round of the draft will be completed in two weeks and the second round be held on June 30th.
Cho would join eight other players who have returned from foreign baseball including Chong Min-tae (Hyundai Unicorns), Lee Sang-hoon (LG Twins) and Lee Jong-beom (Kia Tigers).
Nippon Professional Baseball
May 1, 2003
Central League
W L T Pct GB
17 10 1 .630 Hanshin Tigers
15 12 0 .556 2.0 Yakult Swallows
13 11 1 .542 2.5 Yomiuri Giants
15 13 0 .536 2.5 Chunichi Dragons
12 11 0 .522 3.0 Hiroshima Carp
5 20 0 .200 11.0 Yokohama BayStars
Pacific League
W L T Pct GB
16 11 0 .593 Fukuoka Daiei Hawks
14 13 0 .519 2.0 Osaka Kintetsu Buffaloes
14 14 0 .500 2.5 Seibu Lions
12 13 0 .480 3.0 Chiba Lotte Marines
12 13 1 .480 3.0 Nippon Ham Fighters
10 14 1 .417 4.5 Orix Blue Wave
Korean Baseball Organization
April 29, 2003
W L T Pct GB
14 2 1 .875 Samsung Lions
13 5 1 .722 2.0 Hyundai Unicorns
12 5 1 .706 2.5 Kia Tigers
10 7 1 .588 4.5 SK Wyverns
9 9 1 .500 6.0 LG Twins
7 12 1 .368 8.5 Hanwha Eagles
4 15 0 .211 11.5 Doosan Bears
2 16 2 .111 13.0 Lotte Giants
Chinese Professional Baseball League (Taiwan)
April 29, 2003
W L T Pct GB
18 8 0 .692 Sinon Bulls
19 9 0 .679 President Lions
14 10 2 .583 3.0 China Trust Whales
11 16 0 .407 7.5 Makoto Gida
10 16 1 .385 8.0 Brother Elephants
6 19 1 .240 11.5 First Securities Agan
