What did Hanshin do as a follow-up act to yesterday’s dramatic, come-from-behind, escape from the jaws of death landmark of a game? They sure didn’t build on the momentum, as the Baystars scored three early runs against Raul Alcantara and tacked on another in the third inning before he was chased. Meanwhile, the batters looked more like the first eight innings of yesterday, and not much like the team that had pulled off a huge victory. And right they put up a run in the seventh, they gave up another four-spot in the eighth. Thanks to the Giants losing tonight, too (14-6!), the Tigers have at least guaranteed themselves first place at the all-star break for the first time since 2008. So that’s something. (Don’t ask what happened in 2008. Please.)
