After yesterday’s ugly extra innings loss, these Tigers had something to prove. They used shaky pitching from their opponent and combined it with big bats from the two guys who couldn’t get it done yesterday to trounce the Dragons. Unfortunately, it also cost them a player who was hotter than hot until he slid awkwardly into second.
Starting Pitchers: Taiki Ono (2-0, 3.09 ERA) vs. Onelki Garcia (3-0, 1.37 ERA)
1
Each of our first three guys looked at five pitches – four of which were bad. So the bases were loaded without a single swing of the bat. Unfortunately, the first of these, Hiroki Uemoto, hurt himself sliding into second on a successful steal. He had to be taken off on a stretcher, which is never a good sign.
上本博紀、これで途中交代かよ😨😨
うえぽん何があったんや？？
今絶好調なだけにもったいないしこんなんショックすぎるやろ。。
もう長期離脱とか勘弁してくれよホンマに。。 pic.twitter.com/NTTFagO4Zr
— や す ぽ ん くん@FCU (@ksmokya_fcu_21) May 5, 2018
Anyways, Wilin Rosario snapped out of his slump, bringing home two men on a hit to left.
Tigers 2, Dragons 0
3
The second time through the order, Kai Ueda got on base with a single, but it was Yoshio Itoi who relieved him at first (thanks to a ground out). He then stole second, and came home on a Rosario single.
Tigers 3, Dragons 0
4
Four straight singles were only interrupted by a throw-out at third on Viciedo’s run. And so the damage was limited to just one run.
Tigers 3, Dragons 1
5
This time, it was Kosuke Fukudome who got on base, but was forced out on a Kento Itohara grounder. Itohara then stole second, and scored on a Shunsuke single.
Tigers 4, Dragons 1
6
It. Took. One. Instant… to leave the park.
文句なし！！！糸井、小野を助ける大きなホームラン！！！ #hanshin #虎テレ pic.twitter.com/snawsnFrPK
— 虎テレ運用担当 (@toratele) May 5, 2018
Tigers 6, Dragons 1
7
Honestly, Ono was not at his best on this day. Lots of free passes, including two in this inning, which led to Viciedo’s RBI single as well as Ono’s sudden departure from the game. 6.2 IP, 114 TP, 8 H, 7 BB, 2 R, 3 K. Diego Moreno relieved him and got out of the inning on nine pitches and no further damage.
Tigers 6, Dragons 2
8
Ueda collected his second walk of the game, stole second base (the team’s 4th SB and 4th base stealer), and scored on a Rosario RBI double to left:
植田の盗塁に続いてロサリオがタイムリーヒット！本日4打点目！ #hanshin #虎テレ pic.twitter.com/Km1DlGa8sm
— 虎テレ運用担当 (@toratele) May 5, 2018