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05/13/2003 Archived Entry: "Japan Baseball News: Tigers Lead by 5 in CL; Buffaloes Win 6th Straight"
Japan Baseball News: Tigers Lead by 5 in CL; Buffaloes Win 6th Straight
by Robert Kiyoshi Shadlow
Sources: Japan Times (May 14, 2003); Tigers Today (May 11, 2003)
Hanshin Tigers 12 - Hiroshima Carp 2:
Osamu Hamanaka hit 4-for-5 including a two-run double and George Arias singled in the go-ahead run to help trounce the Carp in Yonago Municipal Stadium, Tottori Prefecture. Arias also had a two run double as the Tigers drove in six runs in the sixth inning.
Yomiuri Giants 7 - BayStars 2:
Hiroki Sanada (1-3) struck out seven batters while yielding only one run, three hits, and three walks to earn a complete game victory over the BayStars. Tomohiro Nioka drove in the go-ahead run in the fifth inning at Tokyo Dome.
Shinnosuke Abe hit a seventh inning home run.
Yakult Swallows 9 - Chunichi Dragons 7:
Alex Ramirez launched a grand slam home run to lead the Swallows past the Dragons at Toyama's Alpen Stadium.
Masanori Ishikawa (2-3) pitched 6-1/3 innings and gave four runs for the win.
Kenshin Kawakami (4-3) gave up six runs for the loss.
Osaka Kintetsu Buffaloes 3 - Fukuoka Daiei Hawks 0:
Jeremy Powell (4-4) pitched a nine-strikeout, complete game shutout while giving up six hits, two walks, and hitting three batters.
Norihiro Nakamura blasted his ninth home run of 2003 and hit 2-for-3 at Fukuoka Dome in the Buffaloes sixth straight victory.
Tsuyoshi Wada (4-2) took the loss.
Seibu Lions 6 - Orix BlueWave 4:
Kazuo Matsui and Kazuhiro Wada each had home runs to beat the BlueWave at Kobe's Yahoo BB Stadium.
Scott McClain singled the go ahead run in the eith inning.
Shuichiro Osada (2-1)won the game with 1-1/3 relief innings.
Kiyoshi Toyoda notched his eighth save.
Chiba Lotte Marines 3 - Nippon Ham Fighters 2:
A eigth inning wild pitch by Norihiro Takahashi (1-2)gave the victory to Lotte at Chiba Marine Stadium.
Michihiro Ogasawara hit a two-run home run in the first inning.
Hiroyuki Kobayashi (2-2) was the wining pitcher and Masahide Kobayashi earned the save.
The Fighters were unable to score in three bases-loaded opportunities.
Nippon Professional Baseball
May 14, 2003
Central League
W L T Pct GB
25 13 1 .658 Hanshin Tigers
18 16 1 .529 5.0 Yomiuri Giants
19 18 0 .514 5.5 Yakult Swallows
20 19 0 .513 5.5 Chunichi Dragons
17 17 0 .500 6.0 Hiroshima Carp
10 26 0 .278 14.0 Yokohama BayStars
Pacific League
W L T Pct GB
22 14 0 .611 Osaka Kintetsu Buffaloes
22 15 1 .595 0.5 Seibu Lions
20 16 1 .556 2.0 Fukuoka Daiei Hawks
16 19 0 .457 5.5 Chiba Lotte Marines
14 20 2 .412 7.0 Nippon Ham Fighters
11 21 2 .344 9.0 Orix BlueWave
League Leaders:
Tigers Today: Unofficial Hanshin Tigers Website
http://www009.upp.so-net.ne.jp/tigerstoday/index.html
posts the individual league leaders as of May 11, 2003:
Central League
- Batting Average -
Suzuki (Swallows) .388
Akahoshi (Tigers) .363
Abe (Giants) .355
Yano (Tigers) .349
Fujimoto (Tigers) .336
- Run Batted In -
Hamanaka (Tigers) 43
Ramirez (Tigers) 39
Suzuki (Swallows) 26
Tatsunami (Dragons) 26
- Home Runs -
Woods (BayStars) 13
Ramirez (Tigers) 12
Hamanaka (Tigers) 11
- Stolen Bases -
Akahoshi (Tigers) 17
Araki (Dragons) 7
- ERA -
Takahashi (Carp) 1.98
Kawakami (Dragons) 2.22
Moore (Tigers) 2.52
Irabu (Tigers) 2.57
Igawa (Tigers) 3.33
- Wins -
Moore (Tigers) 6
Irabu (Tigers) 5
- Strikeouts -
Igawa (Tigers) 49
Uehara (Giants) 47
Takahashi (Carp) 46
Moore (Tigers) 44
Domingo (BayStars) 41
- Saves -
Gaillard (Dragons) 10
Williams (Tigers) 9
Pacific League
- Batting Average -
Tani (Bluewave) .388
Iguchi (Hawks) .363
Jojima (Hawks) .355
Ogasawara (Fighters) .349
Hidaka (Bluewave) .336
- Runs Batted In -
Jojima (Hawks) 26
Rhodes (Buffaloes) 25
Iguchi (Hawks) 23
Ogasawara (Fighters) 23
- Home Runs -
Rhodes (Buffaloes) 12
Jojima (Hawks) 10
Cabrera (Lions) 10
- Stolen Bases -
Muramatsu (Hawks) 15
Kawasaki (Hawks) 11
Iguchi (Hawks) 10
- ERA -
Matsuzaka (Lions) 1.19
N. Shimizu (Marines) 1.34
Wada (Hawks) 1.85
Iwakuma (Buffaloes) 1.91
Yoshizaki (Fighters) 2.32
- Wins -
Iwakuma (Buffaloes) 6
Matsuzaka (Lions) 5
N. Shimizu (Marines) 5
Yoshizaki(Fighters) 5
Mitsui (Lions) 5
- Strikeouts -
Matsuzaka (Lions) 69
Wada (Hawks) 52
Powell (Buffaloes) 51
Arakaki (Hawks) 48
Sugiuchi(Hawks) 45
- Saves -
M. Kobayashi (Marines) 8
