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06/05/2003 Archived Entry: "Japan Baseball News: Tigers 9 Game CL Lead - Irabu Strikes Out 11"
Japan Baseball News: Tigers 9 Game CL Lead - Irabu Strikes Out 11
by Robert Kiyoshi Shadlow
Source: Japan Times (2003, June 6); Tacoma News Tribune (2003, June 5)
Hanshin Tigers 2 - Chunichi Dragons 1:
Hideki Irabu struck out 11 batters yielding nine hits to beat the Dragons at Koshien Stadium.
Teruyoshi Kuji drove in both runs for the Tigers with a second-inning triple and a sixth-inning bases loaded sacrifice fly.
Motonobu Tanishige had Chunichi's only run on a homer.
Hiroshima Carp 7 - Yomiuri Giants 6:
Junya Sakai gave up a sayonara home run to the Carp's Andy Sheets in the bottom of the ninth inning
at Hiroshima Stadium.
Yakult Swallows 4 - Yokohama BayStars 3:
Ken Suzuki's first-inning two-run homer and fourth-inning one-run round tripper both off of Yuji Yoshimi (2-6) lifted the Swallows past the BayStars at Jingu Stadium.
Kevin Hodges (3-5) got the victory while striking out four batters and allowing three hits in seven innings.
Takahiro Saeki and Katsuaki Furuki both one-run homers in the bottom of the ninth for Yokohama.
Nippon Professional Baseball
June 6, 2003
Central League
W L T Pct GB
38 17 1 .691 Hanshin Tigers
28 25 1 .528 9.0 Yomiuri Giants
27 26 0 .509 10.0 Yakult Swallows
27 28 0 .491 11.0 Chunichi Dragons
22 26 0 .458 12.5 Hiroshima Carp
16 36 0 .308 20.5 Yokohama BayStars
Pacific League
W L T Pct GB
32 21 1 .604 Fukuoka Daiei Hawks
32 22 0 .593 0.5 Osaka Kintetsu Buffaloes
28 25 1 .528 4.0 Seibu Lions
24 28 2 .462 7.5 Nippon Ham Fighters
23 28 0 .451 8.0 Chiba Lotte Marines
17 32 2 .347 13.0 Orix BlueWave
Ichiro Suzuki's Reaction to Sosa's Corked Bat:
Larry Larue related in the June 5, 2003 Tacoma News Tribune that Ichiro reacted to the Sammy Sosa corked bat situation by tapping his chest and saying he felt "hurt".
Ichiro stated that in Japan, "I've never heard of such a thing happening. The baseballs in Japan are wrapped tight enough. There's no need for anything else".
