Hanshin couldn't defeat Wakui

Score

Difficult game for the Tigers. They only batted 4 hits and scored one run against Hideaki Wakui, one of the best Pacific League Pitchers. The winner appeared in the end of the 9th inning, when Kataoka batted a hit from Watanabe and G.G. Sato came back. That was a little bit unfair since Hanshin's starter, Casey Fossum was as good as Wakui, and the young relief Nishimura proved himself worthy of trust, once again.

Starters	C. Fossum	H. Wakui
W - L - S	2 - 2 - 0	8 - 3 - 0
Innings	6	9
ER	1	1
Throws	116	149
Batters	26	32
Hits	5	4
K	8	10
BB	3	2

Lions 3rd batter, Nakajima, was able to play. Apparently he iced his knee and didn't need to go to the hospital. Nakajima was the one who batted Lions' first hit in the 1st inning. Tigres did better in this first inning. Toritani also batted a hit and Murton scored.

M. Murton

N°9 Outfielder Throws R Bats R AVG .346 RBI 30 82 H - 8 HR

Lin made his comeback among the starting members as left fielder. This was awaited by his fans, specially the Taiwanese ones. He was disappointing as pinch hitter on Monday, but today he did his job by batting a hit in three turns at bat.

W. Lin

N°31 Outfielder Throws L Bats L AVG .250 RBI 0 1 H - 0 HR

Nishimura pitched two innings despite playing every day, and stroke out 4 batters. He gave up a base on balls to the 5th batter Brown, but there is nothing to be ashamed of since he stroke out Nakajima and Takayama, the two best batters of Seibu. The next pitcher was today's losing pitcher Ryo Watanabe. He gave up a base on balls to G.G. Sato, and after two outs, lead-off Kataoka batted his second hit and won.

R. Watanabe

N°12 Relief Throws R Bats R ERA 1.38 1W - 2L - 0S

The planned starters for the next game are Shimoyanagi for Hanshin (ERA 3.14) and Ishii for Seibu (ERA 3.88).

Other games' score:

Swallows 6 - 1 Fighters

Dragons 1 - 4 Eagles

Giants 9 - 2 Buffaloes

Baystars 3 - 4 Hawks

Carp 2 - 2 Marines