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09/27/2003 Archived Entry: "Japanese Baseball News: Seibu in Near Fatal Loss to Kintetsu; Pote Released"
Seibu Chances Fading With 4-3 Loss to Kintetsu
The Seibu Lions suffered another huge loss to the Kintetsu Buffaloes Sunday at Seibu Dome and their probablity of overtaking the Daiei Hawks, who won their game with Nippon Ham, from slim to infinitesmal thanks to a three run fifth by the Buffs that surmounted a 3-1 Lions lead. Kintetsu starter Jeremy Powell notched his 13th shiroboshi while Chang Chia-chia absorbed his seventh defeat.
Kintetsu threatened right off the top, as third baseman Osamu Hoshino commenced the match with a walk and, two outs later, leftfielder Tuffy Rhodes walked and Chang plunked rightfielder Koichi Isobe to load the bases. However, first baseman Yuji Yoshioka grounded to short to throw cold water on the fire.
But in the second, Lions rightfielder Hiroyuki Oshima blasted a shot into the rightcenterfield bleachers for a 1-0 lead. The next two men walked and were sacrificed over. Second baseman Hiroyuki Takagi, though, flew out to center and shortstop Kazuo Matsui flew out to left and Seibu remained a run up.
They tacked another one on in the third when leftfielder Kazuhiro Wada propelled one into the leftcenterfield stands and it was 2-0 Lions. That was Wada's first homer since August 31st.
Kintetsu shaved some of that disparity off in the fourth, as Yoshioka singled to center with one out, centerfielder Naoyuki Omura singled to right and, one out later, catcher Tetsuya Matoyama walked and so did Hoshino to force Yoshioka in to put the score at 2-1 Lions.
The Lions grabbed that back in the home portion, as centerfielder Shogo Akada reached on an infield hit and stole second. Third baseman Scott McClain singed a double into the leftfield corner to plate his teammate to make it 3-1 Seibu. McClain was sacrificed to third, but stayed there when Takagi lined out to second and Matsui popped out to first.
Unfortunately, Kintetsu would shift the momentum of the game in the fifth when DH Kenshi Kawaguchi singled to right, Rhodes singled to center and, one out later, Yoshioka doubled to rightcenter to bring Kawaguchi in and Rhodes also hastened for home as Yoshioka slid into third on the relay and it was even. Omura flied out to right and Yoshioka tagged up and crossed to give the Buffs a 4-3 lead.
Seibu had two on with one out in the sixth, but couldn't get a clutch knock.
They were then stung by a bizarre play in the eighth, when Powell hit Oshima with one out and went to third on a single to left from reserve centerfielder Fumikazu Takanami. Powell unleashed a wild pitch that hit some steel molding at the bottom of the backstop. Oshima took off for the plate, but the ball richocheted right back to Matoyama, who snagged it ans swiped the tag on Oshima for the out. McClain struckout and that was that.
They also had the tying run on second with nobody out in the ninth, but a foul popout to the catcher, a groundout and a flyout caused that to evaporate and now they are four down in the standings with eight to play.
For Kintetsu, Rhodes was 1-4 with a walk and two strikeouts and is at .274.
For Seibu, Cabrera was 0-3 with a walk and is at .326. McClain was 1-3 with a walk and an RBI and is at .232.
Pitching Lines:
Kintetsu:
Powell (W, 13-12) IP 8.0 BF 34 PC 109 H 7 HR 2 K 3 BB 4 R 3 ER 2 ERA 4.14
T. Yoshida (S, 8) IP 1.0 BF 4 PC 13 H 1 HR 0 K 0 BB 0 R 0 ER 0 ERA 2.41
Seibu:
Chang (L, 7-7) IP 5.1 BF 29 PC 115 H 8 HR 0 K 6 BB 4 R 4 ER 3 ERA 4.98
Mitsui IP 1.2 BF 8 PC 29 H 1 HR 0 K 1 BB 2 R 0 ER 0 ERA 5.38
Shibasaki IP 0.2 BF 2 PC 12 H 0 HR 0 K 0 BB 0 R 0 ER 0 ERA 3.00
Hoashi IP 1.1 BF 4 PC 19 H 1 HR 0 K 2 BB 0 R 0 ER 0 ERA 4.36
E: Mizuguchi, Yoshioka, K. Matsui
SB: Akada, Takanami
2B: McClain, Yoshioka, O. Hoshino, Isobe
HR: H.Y. Oshima (6), K. Wada (28)
RBI: O. Hoshino, Yoshioka 2, N. Omura, H.Y. Oshima, K. Wada, McClain
SF: N. Omura
WP: Chang
HBP: Isobe (Chang), N. Omura (Mitsui), H.Y. Oshima (Powell)
GIDP: Ozeki (2-6-3), Rhodes (6-4-3)
LOB: Kintetsu 12, Seibu 8
Season Series: Kintetsu 15, Seibu 12
Game Time: 3:26
Attendance: 31,000
Umpires: Yanagita (HP), Tachibana (1B), Nakamura (2B), Kawaguchi (3B)
Hawks Back in Front by Four Games with 6-1 Triumph
Brandon Knight threw one of the biggest games of his career Sunday for the Daiei Hawks at Fukuoka Dome, as he went five innings of one run ball to seize his sixth victory 6-1 against the Nippon Ham Fighters and inject a little more health into his team's Pacific League lead. Itsuki Shoda continues to just flat out suck his second full season, having now dropped 13.
The Hawks used the longball to get an early edge, as DH Nobuhiko Matsunaka grounded to second baseman Tomoyuki Oda, who booted it. One out later, leftfielder Pedro Valdes creamed one into the rightfield bleachers and it was 2-0.
Nippon Ham got off the shnide in the third, as shortstop Hiroshi Narahara singled to center and was sacrificed to second. One out later, Oda singled to left for his first pro RBI to make it 2-1.
The Hawks saw that one and raised 'em one, though, in the home segment when shortstop Yusuke Torigoe legged out an infield hit, but was forced out on a ground ball off the bat of centerfielder Yudai Deguchi. Deguchi was sacrificed to second and went home on a double to leftcenter by second baseman Tadahito Iguchi. Matsunaka lashed a single to right to redeem Iguchi and Daiei had a 4-1 advantage.
In the fifth, Kawasaki walked and, two outs later, catcher Kenji Johjima mashed a first pitch fastball on the inner half of the plate into the leftfield seats to raise the Hawks hegemony to 6-1. Johjima tied a career best with his 31st longball of the year.
Nippon Ham's offense went on holiday and that was your ballgame. Daiei's magic number is now five with ten games to play.
Daiei's team batting average is still .298. They will definitely break Kintetsu's league record of .290 in 1980. The overall record is .294 by Yokohama in 1999. They need 29 more runs to break the league record (791 by Kintetsu in 1980). They have no shot at Shochiku's 908 in 1950. They have 255 doubles and need four to set a new all time record. Old record 258 by the Taiyo Whales in 1950. They have seven .300 hitters, eclipsing the five by Hanshin in 1949, Yomiuri in 1987, and Hiroshima in 1997. The Hawks need just 59 more hits to break the one season record for knocks (1417).
For Nippon Ham, Echevarria was 1-2 with a walk and is at .276.
For Daiei, Valdes was 1-4 with two RBIs and is at .319. First baseman Zuleta was 1-4 and is at .263.
Pitching Lines:
Nippon Ham:
Shoda (L, 5-13) IP 3.1 BF 17 PC 69 H 6 HR 1 K 0 BB 0 R 4 ER 3 ERA 5.49
J. Muto IP 1.2 BF 7 PC 21 H 1 HR 1 K 3 BB 1 R 2 ER 2 ERA 6.00
A. Shimizu IP 2.0 BF 8 PC 19 H 1 HR 0 K 1 BB 0 R 0 ER 0 ERA 3.92
Sekine IP 1.0 BF 3 PC 9 H 0 HR 0 K 0 BB 0 R 0 ER 0 ERA 5.96
Daiei:
Knight (W, 6-4) IP 5.0 BF 18 PC 73 H 5 HR 0 K 4 BB 0 R 1 ER 1 ERA 5.02
M. Sato IP 2.0 BF 6 PC 22 H 0 HR 0 K 0 BB 1 R 0 ER 0 ERA 3.00
K. Okamoto IP 1.0 BF 3 PC 10 H 0 HR 0 K 1 BB 0 R 0 ER 0 ERA 3.31
Shinohara IP 1.0 BF 3 PC 12 H 0 HR 0 K 1 BB 0 R 0 ER 0 ERA 1.72
E: T. Oda, Kimoto
2B: Echevarria, Iguchi, Shibahara
HR: P. Valdes (26), Johjima (31)
RBI: T. Oda, Iguchi, Matsunaka, P. Valdes 2, Johjima 2
WP: Knight
HBP: Echevarria (Knight)
GIDP: K. Shimada (6-4-3), T. Oda (4-6-3)
LOB: Nippon Ham 2, Daiei 5
Season Series: Nippon Ham 9, Daiei 15
Game Time: 2:36
Attendance: 48,000
Umpires: Kodera (HP), Hayashi (1B), Maeda (2B), Kakigizono (3B)
Saito Drives in Four to Help Yomiuri Over Hanshin 10-5
Third baseman Takayuki Saito homered an drove in four runs while first baseman Kazuhiro Kiyohara and leftfielder Roberto Petagine each plated two, as the Yomiuri Giants firmly fended off the Hanshin Tigers 10-5 Sunday at Tokyo Dome in Yomiuri's final home game of the season. Kimiyasu Kudoh registered his first in in over a month while Hanshin starter Shinobu Fukuhara is in hard regression mode in losing his second in a row.
Yomiuri had the upper hand temporarily in the first, as shortstop Tomohiro Nioka walked with one away and, one out later, Petagine also worked a freebie. Following another out, Nioka stole third and then crossed on an infield hit from the burly Kiyohara, of all people.
Hanshin then dented Kudoh, as third baseman Atsushi Kataoka and second baseman Kentaro Sekimoto each singled to center and catcher Akihiro Yano whizzed a double into the leftfield corner to drive Kataoka in. Shortstop Atsushi Fujimoto bounced one to the rightside to convert Sekimoto, the play going to first for the out. Even though he has had precious few at bats since being out of action since early last year, Tigers helmsman Senichi Hoshino ordered up a squeeze and Fukuhara got it down to make it 3-1 visitors.
However, in the third, Yomiuri flexed its muscles and went ahead to stay. With one out, rightfielder Yoshinobu Takahashi singled to center. Petagine got a fastball middle out and massacred it into the mezzanine section in right to level it at 3-3. Kiyohara singled to left. Saito got a fastball down and away and despite hitting it closer toward the trademark, managed to lift it into the first row of the rightfield seats and Yomiuri was looking down on Hanshin at 5-3.
In the fifth, Giants second baseman Toshihisa Nishi walked and stole second. Rookie reliever Hirotaka Egusa plunked catcher Yoshinori Murata. One out later, Daisuke Motoki, pinch hitting for centerfielder Takayuki Shimizu, flambed an Egusa delivery up the leftcenter alley and Nishi strode in to stretch the Yomiuri advantage to 6-3.
Next time up, Kiyohara socked one into the rightcenterfield stands and his side was feeling comfy at 7-5.
The Tigers, though, would engender some unease for the Giants in the seventh. Fujimoto doubled off the leftfield wall and, one out later, first baseman George Arias jacked a fokball on the outer half of the plate and parked it in the first couple of rows of the leftfield seats to lead his faction within 7-5. Kudoh walked both centerfielder Norihiro Akahoshi and leftfielder Tomoaki Kanemoto and rightfielder Shinjiro Hiyama outran a bleeder to juice the bags. Kataoka now had Kudoh's fate in his hands. And Kudoh won the faceoff, as Kataoka grounded to first to maintain the 7-5 Giants edge.
But Saito was to victimize the Tigers once more in the eighth, as Takahashi singled to left and, one out later, Kiyohara walked. Saito wacked a Makoto Yoshino pitch into the rightfield corner to claim both runners and a triple. Nishi flied out to center and Saito tagged up and ran in and it was 10-5 Giants.
Julio Santana surrendered a two out triple to right with two outs, but fanned Kanemoto to bring down the curtain.
This was the first double figure bonanza in runs for Yomiuri against Hanshin this season. This is also now Saito's first ten homer campaign in his nine year career.
Yomiuri was 30-30-2 at home this season. Last year, they were 40-21-1. They are one away from tying a 2001 club record for runs given up (659).
For Hanshin, Arias, batting leadoff, was 1-5 with two RBIs and is at .271. This was his first homer in 13 at bats as the team's one hole hitter. He has ten homers against the Giants in 2003, the first Hanshin player since Masayuki Kakefu, who racked up 12, in 1984 to do that. He reportedly could receive as much as 400 million yen (about $3 million) next season. He is pocketing $1.8 million this season.
For Yomiuri, Petagine was 1-4 with a walk and two RBIs and is at .322. Chris Latham struckout in a pinch hit appearance and is at .227.
Pitching Lines:
Hanshin:
Fukuhara (L, 2-2) IP 3.0 BF 20 PC 88 H 7 HR 2 K 4 BB 4 R 5 ER 5 ERA 2.70
Egusa IP 3.0 BF 15 PC 82 H 4 HR 1 K 5 BB 2 R 2 ER 2 ERA 6.00
Kanazawa IP 1.0 BF 3 PC 12 H 0 HR 0 K 2 BB 0 R 0 ER 0 ERA 2.30
Yoshino IP 0.1 BF 4 PC 20 H 2 HR 0 K 0 BB 1 R 3 ER 3 ERA 3.43
Ishige IP 0.2 BF 2 PC 6 H 0 HR 0 K 0 BB 0 R 0 ER 0 ERA 3.50
Yomiuri:
Kudoh (W, 7-6) IP 7.0 BF 32 PC 136 H 9 HR 1 K 6 BB 3 R 5 ER 5 ERA 4.25
Kubo IP 1.0 BF 3 PC 14 H 0 HR 0 K 0 BB 0 R 0 ER 0 ERA 4.27
Santana IP 1.0 BF 4 PC 15 H 1 HR 0 K 2 BB 0 R 0 ER 0 ERA 4.44
SB: Akahoshi, Nioka, Nishi 2
2B: A. Yano, Motoki, Fujimoto
3B: Takayuki Saito, Akahoshi
HR: Petagine (34), Takayuki Saito (10), Kiyohara (24), Arias (37)
RBI: Arias 2, A. Yano, Fujimoto, Fukuhara, Motoki, Petagine 2, Kiyohara 2, Takayuki Saito 4, Nishi
SF: Nishi
HBP: Y. Murata (Egusa)
LOB: Hanshin 7, Yomiuri 10
Season Series: Hanshin 17, Yomiuri 8 1 Tie
Game Time: 4:00
Attendance: 55,000
Umpires: Tomoyose (HP), Watada (1B), Kasahara (2B), Sasaki (3B)
Team Reports
Yomiuri Yomiuri chairman Ujiya said Sunday that he supports manager Tatsunori Hara remaining with the club amid swirling rumors that he may be fired. Indeed, Chunichi Sports claims that Hara's ouster is a sure thing. However, the final decision will be left to owner Tsuneo Watanabe. Hara has reportedly told friends that there is no reason to cut him loose. Ironically, Hara has the second best record (third percentage-wise) among all Giants managers through their sophomore year, topping even Tetsuharu Kawakami, who lead his club to nine consecutive titles. All but Sadaharu Oh, who posted a goose egg, won one pennant during the two campaigns. Despite that, he is thought to be at loggerheads with the front office over his coaching staff for 2004 and that may doom Hara's future with the team he spent his entire baseball career with.
Yakult The Swallows are said to have locked up 5'11" 165 pound Hachinohe University righthander Ryo Kawashima, who features a slider to accompany a 93mph fastball.
Hanshin Reliever Lou Pote will be released at the end of the season, according to Sankei Sports.
Chunichi Former Dragons great Hiromitsu Ochiai's name continues to come up among a whole host of names to succeed now departed Hisashi Yamada as the team's skipper. However, the team's front office offered no comment on that....Chunichi is said to be interested in Hachinohe University righty Satoru Ishikawa, a 6'0" 200 pounder whose fastball maxes out at 92mph....Kenjiro Kawasaki was bombed for seven runs on seven hits in four innings in a minor league start. Now the question is, will the Dragons hold on to him for next season or will they cut him loose?...The Dragons front office is being circumpsect as to whether reliever Marck Valdes will be with them next season. While they view Valdes favorably, they will wait until they find a new manager before sorting out personnel issues according to Chunichi Sports.
Yokohama First baseman Tyrone Woods says that once he reaches the 40 homer mark, he wants to go home, no matter if it costs him the homer crown or not. "I don't care about titles," he revealed. Geez, just try pulling that in MLB, Tyrone.
Daiei Slugging third baseman Hiroki Kokubo returned to Japan and was greeted by 200 fans at the airport. He says he could probably hit if he were to play in the Japan Series, but that he could do little else. So see ya next season, Hiroki-san.
Lotte Ace Tomohiro Kuroki, who has been on the shelf since early 2002, is scheduled to make a minor league rehab start on the 23rd. Coaches say that the righthander won't be elevated back to the big club until his shoulder is strong enough to withstand throwing a complete game.
Orix Manager Leon Lee stated that even after this disaster of a season, he wants to return for another one. "We have some potential here and the veterans are showing the young players the ropes. If I can come back next season, we might have something"....A typhoon wreaked enough damage to its Miyakojima training facility that Orix may have to hold its fall camp elsewhere. A roof was ripped off an indoor practice facility the Blue Wave planned to use.
Today's Pictures
Roberto Petagine Hammers One into the Seats
Kenji Johjima Knows It's Gone, But is it Fair?
Different (and More Freudian?) View of Johjima Shot
