Playing the Dragons at home was supposed to be a chance to build some momentum heading into the all-star break. However, a late-inning collapse (what else is new – three straight games attended by yours truly have all turned out the same) cost us the first game, a complete lack of hitting was the culprit…
The Tigers ended interleague on a downer, having lost four straight series to Pacific League opponents. Meanwhile, the Baystars caught fire during that stretch. The six-game lead once held by the Tigers was down to 2.5… and then they proceeded to completely give it away, as the Baystars swept them in Yokohama back in June….
A mysterious decision to call Friday’s game because of rain that never came meant this series was just a two-gamer. The first one was a tight game, and the Tigers kind of blew a big chance in the bottom of the sixth inning. Having already tied the game on a Yusuke Ohyama RBI double, there…
Trips to Hiroshima have been hard for this team in the past decade, and this trip was no exception. One of our players made the trip but then left without even setting foot on the field. (No, not Yangervis Solarte – that was 4 years ago already!) Koji Chikamoto took a fastball to the ribs…
The Tigers have not won back-to-back games since the start of June, believe it or not. But after last weekend’s sweep in Yokohama, even small things like series ties have to be viewed as victories. Friday night’s game featured Junya Nishi making a return to the rotation and doing quite well, only to see the…
To say the Tigers were in a slump was an understatement. Ever since that Monday make-up game against the Chiba Lotte Marines on June 5, the team found itself unable to put together a three-game series win: they dropped 2 of 3 to the Eagles, Fighters, Buffaloes and Hawks, before getting swept by the Baystars…
It was a nice run of 7 weeks being in the top spot… coming off two straight losses against the Hawks to end interleague, the team needed to show itself strong in Yokohama, where it had lost 10 straight regular season games. Better make it 13. The bats could not figure out the Baystars aces…
After a crushing loss on Thursday night to the Buffaloes, the team needed to come out of the gates strong against the team they have had a hard time being, historically. And they did. Actually, things looked good until there were three innings left in the second game of the series. After that, the bats…
Interleague has taught us an important lesson. Our relievers are good, but they aren’t invincible. For the third time in 10 days, Atsuki Yuasa came into the game with a lead, and left the field with the loss (or tie). On the whole, it was a good series (pitchers’ duel on Tuesday, big production from…
Who would have thought that the outcome of first series at Es Con Field Hokkaido would (in part) be determined by two bit-players who got traded for each other this past offseason? Taiga Egoshi showed up his old mates by robbing them of several base hits in center, throwing out a runner at third, hitting…